thoughts and plans, when he heard a tap on the window, and looking
up, saw through the pane the coarse, red face of Nick Holden, a
young fellow of eighteen, the son of the village butcher.

"Let me in!" said Nick; "I want to see you on business."






CHAPTER III.

NICK HOLDEN'S CALL.





Philip had never liked Nick Holden. He was a coarse, rough-looking
boy, his reddish face one mass of freckles, and about as
unattractive as a person could be, without absolute deformity. This,
however, was not the ground for Philip's dislike.

With all his unattractiveness, Nick might have possessed qualities
which would have rightly made him popular. So far from this,
however, he was naturally mean, selfish, and a bully, with very
slight regard for truth.

Will it be believed that, in spite of his homely face, Nick really