And so we did. But Moore did not put his usual spirit into it, and so when I checkmated him at the end of an hour or so, I did not feel as pleased as would have been the case in an ordinary way. For he played better than I. And soon after I said I felt tired, as I did, and got up to go to bed. "How long are they,"--meaning of course our hosts--"going to stay away?" Moore said abruptly as we were bidding each other good-night. "Three days--four at the most," I replied. "This is Tuesday. Yes, they quite hope to be back on Friday." He murmured something unintelligible in reply, but I said no more. I was really tired, for our drive had been a long one, and over very rough roads for some considerable part of the day. The next morning, however, I awoke quite refreshed again, and ready for another expedition of any kind. "I must amuse Moore if he won't amuse me," I thought to myself. "Boys are terrible creatures for getting into mischief if they are idle, as the old hymn truly says," and I prepared to go downstairs to breakfast in excellent spirits. But alas! the sunshine which had passed into my room while I was dressing had been but short-lived. Before we had finished breakfast the skies had clouded over into a very unpromising grey; long before noon it was hopeless. "No chance of an expedition to-day!" I said, rather drearily, as I stood at the window gazing out, but Moore seemed inclined to take things philosophically. "I'm afraid not," he said, as he joined me, his hands in his pockets, a somewhat superior air about him. "Not for you at least, Reggie. It may clear up by late afternoon, enough for me to get out a bit, but the roads will be terrible, it's coming down so heavily." "I don't see why I shouldn't go out as well as you if it clears at all," I said. "You forget that I am less sensitive to cold than you, since you were ill!" If I had thought a moment I would not have said this, knowing what boy nature is as to any precautionary measures for health. I was surprised that my not very tactful speech did not seem to annoy my brother. "I don't know about that," was all he said in reply. "I'm ever so much tougher than I was, and at worst, I have the advantage over you of having no flapping skirts to soak up the wet."