"Oh, Ronnie!" The hurt voice aroused all his latent chivalry.
"Well, it was rather a nice one," he admitted half unwillingly, and with this poor little Gwennie had to be content, as her mother's voice was heard at this moment bidding her to hasten homewards.
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[CHAPTER VI]
SCHOOL CONFLICTS
THE advent of five lads, each bearing the surname of "Rose," was a matter of mingled interest and amusement at the County Grammar School on the day of the commencement of the September term.
The school was situated about five miles from Linwell, and therefore it necessitated the lads dining at school. To avoid the long walk and to ensure punctuality, Mrs. Rose took three railway season-tickets for her boys, and as Mrs. Wilfrid did the same, the lads came into very frequent contact.
Reg's open avoidance and supercilious manner so aggravated Hugh that on the first morning at school he had a keen desire to "have it out" with him. But acting on his mother's counsel, he restrained his temper, and contented himself by returning Reg's cold stare with interest. It chanced that Hugh and Reg were placed together in the same form, Frank and Monty in the next one lower, whilst Ronnie found himself in the class for very little boys, a fact which did not trouble him in the least. Although he was very backward in his lessons, he was of such a sociable temperament that it more than compensated for his want of knowledge. He made friends with wonderful rapidity, and in a very short space of time he came to the conclusion that school was a very "jolly place" after all.
A month passed away, and nut-brown October took the place of ripe September. The leaves, of gold and crimson, were falling in prodigal luxuriance, whilst on their stems the few remaining autumn flowers shivered tremulously as though they heard in the distance the footsteps of King Winter.
Mrs. Rose, as in duty bound, duly paid her call at York House, which same, after a short lapse of time, was returned in proper form. Beyond these acts of courtesy there had been no great advance on either side save for the friendship which existed between Ronald and Gwennie, which, despite their occasional quarrels, grew and flourished.