“He is at home at present,” said the latter. “He is not being educated anywhere. I don’t know what to do with him. He is a difficult subject.”

That old, double look was on me for a moment; and then his eyes darkened with a frown, as it turned, in its aversion, elsewhere.

“Humph!” said Mr. Quinion, looking at us both, I thought. “Fine weather!”

Silence ensued, and I was considering how I could best disengage my shoulder from his hand, and go away, when he said:

“I suppose you are a pretty sharp fellow still? Eh, Brooks?”

“Aye! He is sharp enough,” said Mr. Murdstone, impatiently. “You had better let him go. He will not thank you for troubling him.”