"If I am any judge of human nature," said Pip, "he is out of the house by this time. I don't think he will even wait for his luggage. He--he's not very presentable. I see the trap has come round for him. It can take me instead, and I'll cart his luggage up to town and leave it at his club. I owe him some consideration," he added, surveying his knuckles thoughtfully. Elsie acquiesced. "Yes, that will be best," she said. "The Chells will think he went off in the ordinary way, and nobody will ever know--Pip, it was awful." She broke off, and shuddered again and again. "I should go and lie down till dinner if I were you," said Pip gently. "All over now: forget it. Good-bye." They shook hands and walked to the door together. "Why are you going away like this?" said Elsie, as the groom piled the luggage into the trap. Pip's face clouded. "I'm ashamed to say that what has happened made me forget for a bit," he said. "I have just had a wire from Pipette--I say, here is the whole cricket-party coming across the lawn! I simply can't face them now. I could have told you about it, but not them. Good-bye, and--good-bye. I shall see you again soon, I hope." He jumped into the cart, and was rattling down the drive by the time that the cricketers and their attendant throng, hot, noisy, and jubilant, burst like a wave into the hall. Elsie turned hastily from a window as they entered. "Hallo, Elsie," cried Raven Innes, "what are you doing here?" "Rather a headache, Raven. I have stayed in since tea," said Elsie. "You certainly don't look very well, dear," said Mrs. Chell. "You missed a great finish," said Cockles. "Only two wickets," shrieked the flapper. "Yes," added the Squire, "and if one of them had gone down we should have been dished. Pip deserted. Where was the ruffian? Have you seen anything of him, my dear?" "Yes," said Elsie; "he was here just now." One or two knowing smiles illuminated the honest faces of the cricketers. "He came up," she continued composedly, "about four, and hurried away to catch the five-thirty train. He has just gone. He gave me this note for you, Mr. Chell." The Squire took the note and read it, and his jolly face grew grave. "Poor fellow!" he said soberly. "What is it?" said everybody. "Pip has had a wire from his sister to say that his father died suddenly this morning--heart failure. Pip has slipped away by the afternoon train: he did not want to spoil our fun. He asks me to say good-bye to all of you from him." CHAPTER VIII LIFE AT FIRST-HAND I