ut on a different tie; and next time
you get some clothes made, don't have them cut like a stable-boy's. It
don't fit with your position, my lad. Now, look sharp and get ready,
for you're going along with me."

"Going with you, sir?"

"Yes, along with me, my lad; and I'm going to keep you till you are out
of your scrape. Then we'll see about what's to be done next."

Percy left the room, and his sister came back, to find Mr William Forth
Burge looking very serious; but his eyes brightened as he took Hazel's
hand.

"I am going to take your brother away with me, and I sha'n't let a
moment go by without trying to put things square. I think the best
thing will be for me to take him right up to London, and go straight to
his employers; but I haven't told him so. If I did, he'd shy and kick;
but it will be the best way. And I dare say a bit of a talk with the
people will help to put matters right."

"But will they prosecute, Mr Burge? It would be so dreadful!"

"So it would, my dear; but they won't. They'll talk big about wanting
to make an example, and that sort of thing, and then they'll come round,
and I shall square it up. Oh, here he comes. There, say good-bye to
your sister, young man, for we've no time to spare. Now, go in first.
Good-bye, Miss Thorne."

"Mr Burge, I cannot find words to tell you how grateful I am," cried
Hazel in tears.

"I don't want you to," he replied bluntly, as he shook hands
impressively, but with the greatest deference. "I couldn't find words
to tell you, my dear, how grateful I am to think that you are ready to
trust me when you want a friend."

Here Mr William Forth Burge stuck his hat on very fiercely, and went
home without a word, Percy Thorne walking humbly by his side, and
checking his desire to say to himself that after all, Mr William.
Forth Burge did seem to be a regular cad.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

MR BURGE IS BUSINESS-LIKE.

"I am the last person in the world, Rebecca, to interfere," said
Beatrice, as she busied herself making a series of holes with some thick
white cotton, which she wriggled till something like a pattern was
contrived; "but I cannot sit still and see that young person misbehaving
as she does."

"I quite agree with you, dear, and it shocks me to see into what a state
of moral blindness poor Henry has plunged."

"Ah!" sighed her sister, "it is very sad;" and she sighed again and
thought of a certain scarlet woman. "What would he say if he