84 EACECOUESE AND COVEET SIDE. 



half a mile from the mill, I should say. It's 

 like asking the way fi'om St. James's Street to 

 Hyde Park Corner." 



" Well, I don't know," Fearstone replied, 

 with an appearance of reflection; "it seems to 

 me that along the road is the best way after 

 all. That's how it struck me the other day, and 

 we're so used to going the other way that it's 

 difficult to decide." 



"Difficult? Not in the least! What have 

 you been having for breakfast ? Why, it's more 

 than half a mile further — near a mile, I should 

 think, and bad going on the road," Flutterton 

 rejoined. 



" Well, I ought to know, oughtn't I ? " Fear- 

 stone said. 



"Yes; you ought, and you don't — that's 

 the odd part of it," Flutterton argued. " You 

 haven't had ' the boy ' for breakfast, have you ? 

 I never heard such a thing ! " 



" I should be inclined to bet about it, all the 

 same," Fearstone quietly said; "and I'll tell 

 you what I'll do. I'll bet you a pony that, 

 going round by the road, I touch the gate-post 

 of the mill before you, you riding through the 

 forest the usual way." 



" Done — for a hundred, if you like ! " Flutter- 

 ton answered. 



