He had been so scrupulously careful not to give any pretext for a charge of favouritism, that he had even neglected him at times.

Now and then he had had a chat; but Arthur had such a painful way of getting into awkward topics that such conferences were usually short and formal.

He had occasionally given an oversight to the boy's work; but Arthur so greatly preferred to "mug," as he called it, in his own study, that opportunities for serious private coaching had been quite rare.
Recently, too, a difference had sprung up between Arthur and Marky about the Smileys; and Railsford felt that he had not done all he might to smooth over that bitter memory and recover the loyalty and affection of the bereaved dog-fancier.

It may have been some or all of these notions which prompted the master to invite his young kinsman to accompany him on the following day--being the mid-term holiday--on an expedition into the country.
The occasion had been chosen by the Grandcourt Naturalists' Field Club for their yearly picnic.

This club was a very select, and, by repute, dry institution, consisting partly of scientific boys and partly of masters.