The younger children listened with admiration to Percy’s views on war topics, much regretting that the Government had not yet obtained the benefit of his advice.  Godfrey even hoped that the war would not be over before there was a chance for precept to be put into practice, and already, in imagination, saw his brother in the uniform of a Field Marshal.  Winona smiled tolerantly.  She took Percy’s opinions for what they were worth.  If his school report was anything to go by, he had certainly not won laurels at Longworth this term, in the direction of brainwork, and the headmaster’s comment:  “Lacking in steady application,” had probably been amply justified.

Winona was not altogether happy about Percy, these holidays.  Jack Cassidy was spending Christmas at the Vicarage, and claimed much of his time, and the influence was not altogether for good.  Young Cassidy had already given the Vicar, his guardian and former tutor, considerable trouble.  At twenty-two he had run through a large proportion of the money which had come to him at his majority, though fortunately he could not touch the bulk of his property till he should be twenty-five.  At present he was waiting for a commission, and amusing himself as best he could in the village until the welcome missive should arrive.  For lack of other congenial companions he sought Percy’s society.  Neither Mr. James, the Vicar, nor Mrs. Woodward realized how much the two young fellows were together, or they certainly would not have encouraged the intimacy.  Winona, who was just old enough to recognize certain undesirable features, tackled Percy in private.

“Mother wouldn’t like your going into ‘The Blue Harp,’ and playing billiards with Jack!” she remonstrated.  “You were there hours yesterday.  Doesn’t it cost a lot?”

“Oh, Jack pays for it!  At least he settles with old Chubbs.  I have a bit on the score, of course, but he says that can wait a while.  I’m improving, and I’ll beat him yet, and win my own back.”

“You promised mother you wouldn’t bet again, after what happened last Easter.”

“Now don’t you go jaw-wagging!”

“Well, I must say something!  If Mr. Joynson—­”

“Old Joynson may go and boil his head!  I’m seventeen now.  Look here, Win, if you’re going to turn sneak—­”

“Sneak, indeed!  Do I ever tell your secrets?  Think what you did at Aunt Harriet’s!”

Percy changed color.

“You’ve not breathed a word about that?”

“Of course I haven’t, but I’m always terrified that she’ll find out.”

“It was a rocky little business.  I say, Win, I was looking up wills in ‘Every Man his Own Lawyer.’  If Aunt Harriet died intestate all her estate would go to her next-of-kin, and that’s Uncle Herbert Beach out in China.  The mater wouldn’t have a look-in, because her mother was only Aunt Harriet’s half-sister.  Uncle Herbert would just get the lot.  She ought to make another will at once.”