"I hope he delivered his message?" Harding inquired. "It is his birthday to-morrow, and his father is going to take him for the day to the seaside. He was to ask if your brother would go with him." "Oh, Bob will be delighted, I'm sure," said Miss Wilton. "I should think _you_ would enjoy the holiday, Mr. Harding, you must be thankful to get rid of your charge now and then." Scarlett, sitting on the end of the sofa, saw Harding's face darken with displeasure. "It makes very little difference, thank you," said the tutor coldly. "I think I'll go and find Guy now." And he bowed himself out of the room in his sullen fashion. The girl looked after him, and then turned to Adrian and laughed. "Aren't we dignified?" she said. "What did I say to make him so cross? I didn't mean any harm." "Oh, I don't know--I don't think you said anything very dreadful. Who is Guy?" "Guy Robinson. His father has no end of money, Jones and Robinson the builders, you know, who are always getting big contracts for things in the newspapers--you see their names for ever. Old Robinson has bought the Priory, so they are neighbours of ours. Guy is twelve or thirteen, the only boy, and they won't send him to school." "Mr. Harding is his tutor?" Miss Wilton nodded. "I shouldn't much fancy him for mine," said Scarlett reflectively. "I'm rather inclined to pity Master Guy." "You needn't," the girl made answer, glancing shrewdly. "I think Mr. Harding is there under false pretences." "False pretences?" "Yes. I believe they think he is stern, and will keep Guy in order, and my private conviction is that he does nothing of the kind. Nobody _could_ keep Guy in order, without perpetual battles, and Mr. Robinson always ends the battles, by dismissing the tutor. I never hear of any battles with Mr. Harding." "I see. You think he spoils the boy." "Spoils him? Well, I think that in his supreme contempt for Guy and all the Robinsons, he just takes care that he doesn't drown himself, or blow himself up with gunpowder, or break his neck, and I don't believe he troubles himself any further. I wonder what made the boy want to go to the seaside." "How far is it?" "Well, about thirty miles if they go to Salthaven. There's a railway--I should think old Robinson will have a special. Bob will have a great deal too much to eat and drink, and he'll be ill the day after. And if he and Guy can think of any senseless mischief, they are sure to be up to it, and the old man will swagger and pay for the damage. Boys will be boys," said Miss Wilton, with pompous intonation. Adrian laughed. "Perhaps Mr. Harding will go too." "Oh no! I know he won't." "How do you know?" "Mr. Robinson won't take him. My belief is that he's rather afraid of Mr. Harding. Oh! there he goes with Guy, out by the garden way." Scarlett looked over her shoulder. "What a handsome fellow he is!" "Handsome?" Miss Wilton turned her head, and looked doubtfully at her companion. "Yes. Don't you think so?"