you think of that?'

'Oh, you'll make a rippin' father,' said Dick. That'll be all right.'

'Good. Then it's settled. We have your consent?'

Dick nodded gravely.

'Thanks for your confidence,' said Frank laughing. 'I think you'll find
me a fairly good sort as step-fathers go.'

Dick had no fears whatever on that point; he and Frank had been excellent
friends for as long as he could remember, and Frank had been his champion
in many semi-public disagreements about billy-goats; and besides, he was
a reader whose judgment the boy held in the highest respect, and that
counted for a great deal.

The boy had a message for Harry, and delivered it with great secrecy at
the earliest opportunity.

'She's back at Summers's, Harry,' he whispered. 'She gave Kitty a letter
to give to me to give you.'

Harry tore the envelope with trembling impatient hands. It contained only
a short note: 'Will you come to me at the gate under the firs to-night at
eight?' and was coldly signed, 'Your true friend,

C. S.'