"Morning, Mr. Eager; we've come for a game. Will you have us?" cried Sir George exuberantly. "Rather! It's just what we wanted. You'll play, sir?" "That's what I came for. Renew my youth, and all that kind of thing! See to the horses, Bob. Eh, what?"--at sight of the lad's eager face--"Like to take a hand too? Well, see If you can tether 'em--away from those bents. Bents won't do them any good. Now then, how shall we play?" "Oh, Carne versus Knoyle," said Eager. "All to field, and Margaret goes in for both sides." Knoyle beat Carne that time, thanks to George and Bob. Sir George "renewed his youth, and all that kind of thing." And young Ralph Harben entered vigorous protest every time he was put out, and argued the points till George punched his head for him. After the game the boys were allowed to take the stiffness out of the ponies' legs. And altogether--as the first of many similar ones--that was a memorable day. Eager rejoiced greatly in the success of his planning, for the close contact with these other bright and restless spirits had a wonderful effect on his boys. They toned down and they toned up, and it seemed to him that he could trace improvement in them each day. He had his doubts now and again of the effects of young Harben on his own two. The lad was difficult and had evidently been much spoiled at home. Eager quietly did his best to remedy his more visible defects, and George Herapath seconded him with bodily chastisement whenever occasion offered. Eager and Sir George were sitting resting in the side of a sand-hill one day, and watching the younger folk at a game in which Ralph was perpetually disputatious odd-man-out. It seemed impossible for him to get through any game without some wrangle. Eager made some quiet comment on the matter and Sir George said: "Yes, he's difficult. He's the only child, and his mother spoiled him sadly. When she died his father sent him to a second-rate school, and this is the result. But I hope he'll pull round. We must do what we can for him. Harben is in treaty for the Scarsdale place just beyond Wynsloe, so you'll be able to keep an eye on the boy. Your two are marvels. I never see them squabbling." "Oh, they never squabble. They just fight it out, and no temper in it. They're really capital boxers, and they're coming on in their fencing." "You'll make men of those two yet." "I'll do my best." "And if the old man dies? What will happen then?" "God knows. It's as hard a nut as I ever came across." "That infernal old woman up at Carrie could crack it if she would, I suppose?" "I have no doubt; but she won't speak. And I'm afraid no one would believe her if she did." "Deuced rough on the old man!" And Sir George lapsed into musing, and watched the riddles of Carne as they sped to and fro, as active as panthers and as careless as monkeys of the trouble they represented.