did. He rode like anything; flew over every fence and every ditch that

nobody else would take, and enjoyed himself. That’s what he did--till he married, which spoils all a man’s fun.’

‘Oh, Tom!’

‘Well, it does--you have to give up--ever so many things, and live like an old woman. I shan’t marry, I can tell you, Jan, not for years.’

‘Then I shall stop with you, Tom, and keep the house.’

‘Don’t you be too sure of that,’ said Tom; ‘I shall have too many fellows coming and going to do with a girl about the place.’

‘But you must have some one to keep house. Mother said so! She is not going to have me at Easton--that I am sure of; and if I am not to keep house for you, Tom, what shall I do?’ said Janet, with symptoms of coming tears.

Then Tom did what the men of a family generally do when a foolish sister relies upon them. He promptly threw her over. ‘You should not have cheeked mother,’ he said.