arrangement."

The farewells were said, and Andy set out on his return home.

He was leaving the old life behind him. A new one lay before him, but
what it was to be he could not foresee.

He reached Arden in due course and set out to walk home. He had barely
started when he heard his name called.

Looking around, he saw Conrad Carter, the squire's only son, on his
bicycle.

"So you've come home from the academy?" said Conrad, curiously.

"Yes," answered Andy, briefly.

He never could bring himself to like Conrad, who made himself offensive
and unpopular by his airs of superiority. Indeed, there was no boy in
Arden so thoroughly disliked as Conrad.

"You'll have a pretty long vacation," went on Conrad, with a significant
laugh.

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Oh, well, it's the best thing for you. I thought it foolish when your
father sent you off to the academy. If the Arden grammar school is good
enough for me it is good enough for you."