She then drew the curtains to exclude the cold late daylight, got into bed and applied herself to the Journal of Philavian Studies.
Mr. Colin Keith was, not to put too fine a point upon it, becoming a distinct bore, as even his fond sister Lydia Merton had to admit. His plans for spending part of the Long Vacation in Switzerland had gradually melted to nothing. Kind Kate would willingly have had him all the time, but the Schoolhouse was full for weekends up to the end of term and she was taking her whole family to Devonshire for August, so it appeared to the Mertons that Colin would spend his holidays at Northbridge.
“Not that I grudge Colin his bed and board,” said Noel sententiously, “for he is the best junior I’ve ever had and your brother, and I happen to like him very much. But if h
