times already."

"I only told him to mind his own business."

"He can't. He's a born meddler. Now he's queered you with the
whole place."

"Can't help it. I wasn't going to let him get away with his
impudence. Why should I?"

Miller shrugged. "Policy, my boy. Better take the advice of Cousin
James and crawl into your shell till the storm has pelted past."

Half an hour later Jeff met his cousin near the chapel and was
taken to task.

"What's this I hear about your insulting Thomas?"

"You have it wrong. He insulted me," Jeff corrected with a smile.

"Tommyrot! Why couldn't you treat him right?"

"Didn't like to throw him through the window on account of
littering up the lawn with broken glass. "

James K.'s handsome square-cut face did not relax to a smile. "You
may think this a joke, but I don't. I've heard the Chancellor is
going to call you on the carpet."

"If he does he'll learn what I think."