“Well, my boy, are you inclined to have another game at football before you go to bed?” asked Captain Vallery.
“No,” answered Norman, not liking the question, “I do not want to play any more to-day.”
“I thought you seemed so pleased with your football, that you would never get tired of it,” observed Mrs Vallery.
Norman made no answer.
The ladies rose from the table, and Captain Vallery soon joined them in the drawing-room, they then strolled out on to the lawn to enjoy the cool air of that lovely summer evening.
“Go and get your football, Norman,” said Captain Vallery, “though you do not wish to play, I shall enjoy kicking it about to remind me of my schoolboy days.”
Norman did not move.
“Go and get it, my dear, as your papa tells you,” said Mrs Leslie, vexed at her grandson’s disobedience.
“I will go and get it—where did you leave it, Norman,” said Fanny.
“I do not know,” he answered.