“The only known remedy is to sit down and die with as good a grace as possible,” said Nick, entering at the moment.  “But it’s just as well to be sure it is a karait before you take those measures, as there are more hopeful remedies for other species.”  He held out his hand to Noel with a cheery smile.  “Pleased to meet you.  I have already made the acquaintance of one member of your illustrious family.”

“Have you though?” said Noel.  “That’s rather a handicap for me, isn’t it?”

Nick’s glance travelled swiftly over him and passed.  “If you’re as good a chap as your brother, you’ll do,” he said.

“Oh, I’m not,” said Noel hastily.  “If you’re talking about Max, he’s the only respectable Wyndham there is, and that’s only because he hasn’t time to be anything else.  He wrote and told me you were coming here.  I was at Budhpore then, but I set to work double quick and got myself transferred.”

“What for?” said Nick.

Noel winked confidentially.  “I wanted to see the fun,” he said.

Again for the passage of a second Nick’s eyes regarded him, and then over the shrewd, yellow face there flashed a sudden smile.  “Are you a cricketer?” said Nick.

“You bet I am!” said Noel boyishly.

Nick nodded.  “I was myself once.”

“Only once, Nick?” protested Musgrave, with a smile that was scarcely humorous.

Nick turned to him with a semi-rueful grimace.  “Oh, my cricketing days are over.  All I’m good for now is to teach other fellows the rules of the game.”

At this point a high voice made itself heard in the distance, imperiously demanding Noel’s presence.

“Oh, Jupiter!” exclaimed Noel.  “That’s Peggy!  Excuse me, you chaps!  She has been saving up her prayers for my benefit, and I came early on purpose!”

He was gone with the words, with all an ardent lover’s alacrity, and Will Musgrave smiled.

“He’s a heady youngster, but there’s real stuff in him.”

“Sound, is he?” said Nick.

“I should say so; but fancy he’s a bit fiery,” said Will.

There was nothing to denote fieriness in Noel’s attitude as he composed himself a few seconds later for the ceremony of Peggy’s devotions.  It was a very simple ceremony, but conducted with extreme decorum, Peggy’s ayah being sternly dismissed as a preliminary.

Noel sat on the edge of the bed while its small owner knelt upon it, head bowed in hands and lodged upon his shoulder.  He had made a tentative movement to encircle her with his arm, but this had been gently but quite firmly forbidden.

“You mustn’t cuddle while I’m sayin’ my prayers,” said Peggy.  “You must put your hands together and shut your eyes.  That’s what Mummy does.”

Noel complied with these instructions, but when Peggy was fairly launched he ventured to violate the last and steal a look at the fair head that rested against his shoulder.