"Oh, but you're different, Harker--besides, it isn't money makes the
difference--"
"The thing is," interposed Horace, "was your father in the wholesale or
retail trade?--that's the difference!"
"I wish you'd shut up, Horace," said Reginald tartly; "you always spoil
any argument with your foolery."
"Now that's hard lines," said Horace, "when I thought I was putting the
case beautifully for you. Never mind. What do you say to a bathe in
the river, you fellows?"
"Too much fag to get towels," said Reginald; "but if you like to go for
them, and don't ask us to look at our watches and see in how many
seconds you run up to the house and back, we'll think about it."
"Thanks," said Horace, and started up to the house whistling cheerily.
"Awfully hot that brother of yours make? a fellow," said Blandford,
watching him disappear.
"Yes," said Reginald, yawning, "he is rather flighty, but he'll turn out
all right, I hope."
"Turn out!" said Harker; "why he's all right already, from the crown of
his head to the sole of his boot."
"Except," said Blandford, "for a slight crack in the crown of his head.
It's just as well, perhaps, he's not the eldest son, Reg."
"Well," said Reginald laughing, "I can hardly fancy Horace the head of
the family."
"Must be a rum sensation," said Harker, "to be an heir and not have to
bother your head about how you'll get your bread and butter some day.
How many hundred millions of pounds is it you'll come in for, Reg? I
forget."
"What a humbug you are!" said Reginald; "my father's no better off than
a lot of other people."
"That's a mild way of putting it, anyhow," said Blandford.
And here the conversation ended.
The boys lay basking in the sun waiting for Horace's return. He was
unusually long in coming.
"Seems to me," said Blandford, "he's trying how long he can be instead
of how quick--for a variety."
"Just like him," said Reginald.
Five minutes passed away, and ten, and fifteen, and then, just as the
boys were thinking of stirring themselves to inquire what had become of
him, they heard his steps returning rapidly down the gravel walk.
"Well," cried Reginald, without sitting up, "have you got them at last?"