"On that?" eyeing the tin whistle with intense interest.

"Yes; on this."

"Will you play again for me?"

"I don't mind."

Ned placed the whistle to his lips, and played a simple Scotch air, improvising on the theme with rare skill; his organ of love of approbation was very large.

"Beautiful!" said Arthur Temple. "You have been taught in a good school."

In the slight laugh with which Ned Chester met this assertion was conveyed a suddenly-born reproach against society for having overlooked such superlative talent as he possessed.

"I was taught in no school." Adding proudly, "What I know, I picked up myself."

Arthur Temple corrected himself, "In the school of nature."

"May be."