“I hope there is no need,” said Grand, a little uncertain whether this remedy was proposed in joke or earnest.  “Valentine has been reminding me that he used to lisp horribly when a child, but he entirely cured himself before he was your age.”

Johnnie, in school-boy fashion, made a face at Valentine when the old man was not looking.  It expressed good-humoured defiance and derision, but the only effect it produced was on himself, for it disturbed for the moment the great likeness to his grandfather that grew on him every day.  John had clear features, thick light hair, and deep blue eyes.  His son was dark, with bushy eyebrows, large stern features, and a high narrow head, like old Grand.

It was quite dark, and the depth of winter, but the thermometer was many degrees above freezing-point, and a warm south wind was blowing.  Grand rose and rang the bell.  “Are the stable lanterns lighted?” he asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Then you two boys come with me.”

The boys, wondering and nothing loth, followed to the stable, and the brown eyes of two large ponies looked mildly into theirs.

“Trot them out,” said Grand to the groom, “and let the young gentlemen have a good look at them.”

Not a word did either of the boys say.  An event of huge importance appeared to loom in the horizon of each:  he cogitated over its probable conditions.

“I got a saddle for each of them,” said Grand.  “Valentine chose them, Johnnie.  There now, we had better come in again.”  And when they were seated in the dining-room as before, and there was still silence, he went on, “You two, as I understand, are both in the same house at Harrow?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And it is agreed that Johnnie could cure himself of his lisp if he chose, and if you would continually remind him of it?”

“Oh yes, certainly it is.”

“Very well, if the thing is managed by next Easter, I’ll give each of you one of those ponies; and,” continued Grand cunningly, “you may have the use of them during the remainder of these holidays, provided you both promise, upon your honour, to begin the cure directly.  If Johnnie has not left off lisping at Easter, I shall have the ponies sold.”

“I’ll lead him such a life that he shall wish he’d never been born; I will indeed,” exclaimed Crayshaw fervently.

“Well,” said Johnnie, “never wath a better time. Allez le, or, in other wordth, go it.”

“And every two or three days you shall bring him to me,” continued Grand, “that I may hear him read and speak.”

The next morning, before John went into the town, he was greeted by the two boys on their ponies, and came out to admire and hear the conditions.

“We mayn’t have them at school,” said Johnnie, bringing out the last word with laudable distinctness, “but Grand will let them live in hith—­in his—­stables.”

John was very well contented to let the experiment alone; and a few days after this, his younger children, going over with a message to Johnnie, reported progress to him in the evening as he sat at dinner.