be any more trouble, at least with me. That mother of his don't know how
to handle him. She's another breed."

"Yes," said the questioner, "the mistress is a lady, she is, and gentle
like the squire who's gone. But how did they get such a one as Master
Anthony?"

"Don't know," replied Bess, "but father says that when he was a boy
in the Fens they'd have told that the fairy folk changed him at birth.
Anyway, I like him well enough, for he suits me."

Barbara went back to her sitting-room, where not long afterwards the boy
came to her. As he entered the doorway she noted how handsome he looked
with his massive head and square-jawed face, and how utterly unlike any
Arnott or Walrond known to her personally or by tradition. Had he been
a changeling, such as the girl Bess spoke of, he could not have seemed
more different.

He came and stood before her, his hands in his pockets and a smile upon
his face, for he could smile very pleasantly when he chose.

"Well, Anthony," she said, "what is it?"

"Nothing, mother dear, except that I have come to beg your pardon. You
were quite right about the coursing meeting; they are a low lot, and I
oughtn't to mix with them. But I had bets on some of the dogs and wanted
to go awfully. Then when you said I mustn't I lost my temper."

"That was very evident, Anthony."