He however quickened his pace and joined Rupert, laying his hand familiarly as of old on his shoulder.

To his surprise the boy received his advances with some constraint and awkwardness, glancing uneasily in the direction of Johnny.

A sudden idea crossed Mr.Ford's mind.
"Were you looking for me at the schoolroom just now ?" "No, sir." "You didn't look in at the window to see if I was there ?" continued the master.
"No, sir." The master glanced at Rupert.

Truth-telling was a part of Rupert's truculent temper, although, as the boy had often bitterly remarked, it had always "told agin' him." "All right," said the master, perfectly convinced.

"It must have been my fancy; but I thought somebody looked in--or passed by the window." But here Johnny, who had overheard the dialogue and approached them, suddenly threw himself upon his brother's unoffending legs and commenced to beat and pull them about with unintelligible protests.