Sadly Hugh John moved away, a still more blighted being. He left Prissy at the white lodge-gate in order that she might go home to meet Mr. Picton Smith on his return from the county town, where he had been judging the horses at an agricultural show. He would take a walk through the town, he said to himself, and perhaps he might meet some of his old enemies. He felt that above everything he would enjoy a sharp tussle. After all what save valour was worth living for? Wait till he was a soldier, and came back in uniform with a sword by his side and the scar of a wound on his forehead--would Cissy Carter despise him then? He would show her! In the meantime he had learned certain tricks of fence which he would rather like to prove on the countenances of his former foes. So with renewed hope in his heart he took his way through the town of Edam. The lamps were just being lighted, and Hugh John lounged along through the early dusk with his hands in his pockets, looking out for a cause of offence. Presently he came upon a brilliantly lighted building, into which young men and women were entering singly and in pairs. A hanging lamp shone down upon a noticeboard. He had nothing better to do. He stopped and read-- +--------------------------------------------------------+ | Edam Mutual Improvement Society. | | _SEASON_ 18-- | | | | _Hon. President._--Rev. Mr. BURNHAM. | | _Hon. Vice-President._--Mr. N. DONNAN. | | _Hon. Sec. and Treasurer._--Mr. NATHANIEL CUTHBERTSON. | | DEBATE TO-NIGHT. | | | | _Subject._--"Is the Pen mightier than the Sword?" | | _Affirmative._--Mr. N. DONNAN. | | _Negative._--Mr. BURNHAM. | | -------------------- | | ALL ARE CORDIALLY INVITED. | | _Bring your Hymn-books._ | +--------------------------------------------------------+ Hugh John did not accept the invitation, perhaps because he had no hymn-book. He only waited outside to hear Mr. N. Donnan's opening sentence. It ran thus: "All ages of the world's history have borne testimony to the fact that peace is preferable to war, right to might, and the sweet still voice of Reason to the savage compulsions of brutal Force." "Oh, hang!" ejaculated Hugh John, doubling his fist; "did you ever hear such rot? I wish I could jolly well fetch Nipper Donnan one on the nob!"