"Sit down a moment," he said, waving aside Dick's hand.
"Surely you are not leaving Ashurst for any length of time ?" "Length of time ?" answered the other, laughing.

"Well, I rather think so.
I expect to go abroad next month." A curious desire came into Gifford Woodhouse's strong hands to take this boy by the throat, and shake him until his ceaseless smile was torn to pieces.

Instead of that, however, he folded his arms, and stood looking down at his companion in silence.
Dick had seated himself again, and was twirling his wet umbrella round and round by the shiny end of one of the ribs.

"Yes," he said, "this is a long good-by to Ashurst." "Mr.Forsythe," said Gifford, with an edge of anger in his voice which could not have escaped even a more indifferent ear than Dick's, "may I ask if Dr.Howe knows of your plans ?" Dick looked up, with a sudden ugly shadow coming across the sunny brightness of his face.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve this concern on your part, Mr.Woodhouse; but, since you ask, I have no objection to saying that Dr.Howe does not particularly interest himself in my affairs.