After some surgical care, John was told to go to his room and lie down.  He protested that he was in no need of rest, but Ann Penhallow, positive in small ways with every one, including her husband, sent John away with an imperative order, nor on the whole was he sorry to be alone.  No one had been too curious.  He recognized this as a reasonable habit of the family.  And Leila?  He was of no mind to be frank with her; and this he had done was a debt paid to John Penhallow!  He may not have so put it, but he would not admit to himself that Leila’s contemptuous epithet had had any influence on his action.  The outcome was a keen sense of happy self-approval.  When he had dressed for dinner, feeling pretty sore all over, he found Leila waiting at the head of the stairs.

“John Penhallow, you threw your cap on the roof and went up to get it, you did.”

“I did, Leila, but how did you know?”

She smiled and replied, “I—­I don’t know, John.  I am sorry for what I said, and oh!  John, Uncle Jim, he was pleased!”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes.”  She caught his hand and at the last landing let it fall.  At dinner, the Squire asked kindly:  “Are you all right, my boy?”

“Yes, sir,” and that was all.

Mark Rivers, who had heard of this incident from Mrs. Penhallow, and at last from Leila, was alone in a position to comprehend the motives which combined to bring about an act of rashness.  The rector had some sympathy with the boy and liked him for choosing a time when no one was present to witness his trial of himself.  He too had the good sense like the Squire to ask no questions.

Meanwhile, Tom McGregor came no more, feeling the wound to his pride, but without the urgent need felt by John to set himself in a better position with himself.  He would have thought nothing of accepting Leila’s challenge, but very much wanted to see the polite girl-boy brought to shame.  In fact, even the straightforward Squire, with all his ready cordiality, at times found John’s extreme politeness ridiculous at his age, but knew it to be the result of absurd training and the absence of natural association with other and manly boys.  To Tom it was unexplained and caused that very common feeling of vague suspicion of some claim to superiority which refined manners imply to those who lack manners altogether.

CHAPTER IV

April passed, the arbutus fragrance was gone, while the maples were putting forth ruddy buds which looked like a prophecy of the distant autumn and made gay with colour the young greenery of spring.  Meanwhile, school went on, and John grew stronger and broader in this altogether wholesome atmosphere of outdoor activity and indoor life of kindness and apparently inattentive indifference on the part of his busy uncle.