go. I've
packed up, but I'd rather go to-morrow morning. I want to go and shake
hands with Pannell and bid Piter `good-bye.'"

"You have packed up?" he said rather sternly.

"Yes, uncle."

"Did you do that in a fit of passion or sulks?"

"No," I said sharply; "but because I wanted to show you to the very last
that I had not forgotten what you taught me about self-denial and all
that."

"God bless you, my lad!" he cried, hurting me horribly as he shook hands
exceedingly hard. "I'm glad to hear you say that, for we've been saying
that if we want to win in this fight we can't afford to part with one
quarter of the Company. Cob, my lad, we want you to stay."

"Uncle!" I cried.

"Yes, my lad, you are older in some things than your years, and though
I'd do anything rather than run risks for you, I do feel that with right
on our side, please God, we shall win yet, and that it would be cowardly
for us even to let you turn tail."

I don't know what I should have said and done then, as Uncle Jack
exclaimed:

"Have I said right, Dick, Bob?"

"Yes, quite," said Uncle Dick warmly; "and for my part--"

"Hush! Sit down," cried Uncle Bob, hastily setting the example so as to
end the scene. "Yes, two eggs, please. Quick, here's Mrs Stephenson
coming with the cakes."

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

STEVENS HAS A WORD WITH ME.

Next morning I went down to the works, feeling as if I had grown in one
night a year older, and after giving Piter the bones I always took him
down, and receiving the ram-like butt he always favoured me with to show
his gratitude, I was going round the place, when I heard a familiar
clinking and saw a glow out of the little smithy that had for some time
been cold.

I ran in, and there, looking rather pale and with a bit or two of
sticking-plaster about his temples, was Pannell hammering away as if he
were trying to make up for lost time.

"Why, Pannell, old man," I cried, running in with outstretched hand,
"back again at work! I am glad to see you."

He looked up at me with a scowl, and wiped his brow with the arm that
was terminated by a fist and hammer--a way, I have observed, much
affected by smiths.

His was not a pleasant face, and it was made more repulsive by the scars
and sticking-plaster. As our eyes met it almost seemed as if he were
going to strike me with his hammer; but he threw it down, gave his great
hand a rub back and front upon his apron, probably to make it a little