If you ever have to fight him, just remember that and keep cool and keep moving." The young boxing-tutor was silently of opinion that John Penhallow would not be satisfied until he had faced Tom again.

John made believe, as we say, that he had no such desire.

He had, however, long been caressed and flattered into the belief that he was important, and was, in his uncle's army phrase, to be obeyed and respected accordingly by inferiors.

His whole life now for many months had, however, contributed experiences contradictory to his tacitly accepted boy-views.

Sometimes in youth the mental development and conceptions of what seem desirable in life appear to make abrupt advances without apparent bodily changes.