lustily. He passed them with all speed, and had nearly reached the place
where he had caught the quails, when he saw a man in a dress which he
guessed at once to be a ranger's, but which, strangely enough, seeing
that he was in the King's employ, was not reversed. My father's heart
beat fast; he got out his permit and held it open in his hand, then with
a smiling face he went towards the Ranger, who was standing his ground.

"I believe you are the Head Ranger," said my father, who saw that he was
still smooth-faced and had light hair. "I am Professor Panky, and here
is my permit. My brother Professor has been prevented from coming with
me, and, as you see, I am alone."

My father had professed to pass himself off as Panky, for he had rather
gathered that Hanky was the better known man of the two.

While the youth was scrutinising the permit, evidently with suspicion, my
father took stock of him, and saw his own past self in him too
plainly--knowing all he knew--to doubt whose son he was. He had the
greatest difficulty in hiding his emotion, for the lad was indeed one of
whom any father might be proud. He longed to be able to embrace him and
claim him for what he was, but this, as he well knew, might not be. The
tears again welled into his eyes when he told me of the struggle with
himself that he had then had.

"Don't be jealous, my dearest boy," he said to me. "I love you quite as
dearly as I love him, or better, but he was sprung upon me so suddenly,
and dazzled me with his comely debonair face, so full of youth, and
health, and frankness. Did you see him, he would go straight to your
heart, for he is wonderfully like you in spite of your taking so much
after your poor mother."