24 MASTER SKYLARK

“Oh, no doubt, no doubt,” said Hal Saddler, mockingly
“We shall have but bread and milk, and thou shalt have
—a most glorious threshing from thy father when thou
comest home again!”

That was the last straw to Nick’s unhappy heart.

“'T ig a threshing either way,” said he, squaring his
shoulders doggedly. “Father will thresh me if I run
away, and Master Brunswood will thresh me if I don’t.
I'll not be birched four times a week for merely tripping
on a word, and have nothing to show for it but stripes.
If I must take a threshing, Ill have my good day’s game
out first.”

“But wilt thou truly go to Coventry, Nick?” asked
Robin Getley, earnestly, for he liked Nick more than all
the rest.

“Ay, truly, Robin—that I will”; and, turning, Nick
walked swiftly away toward the market-place, never look-
ing back.