Clair, with Agnes clinging
to his arm, and Eddie and Bertie behind, hurrying away in the opposite
direction; but not a single word was spoken till they reached the house,
and then Aunt Amy saw by their faces that the old gentleman's
good-natured plan had failed, for that time, at least; but if she
thought for a moment that Mr. Murray gave up an idea so easily after
once forming it, it showed that she knew nothing whatever either of his
goodness of heart or force of character.

CHAPTER XII.--AN EXCITING ADVENTURE.

Though Bertie looked cheerful enough as he walked with Uncle Clair and
Eddie to the railway station on Monday morning, he could not help
feeling very sorry at having to leave Brighton. The weather was so
glorious, the sea all rippling and dancing in the morning sunshine, the
streets so full of merry pleasure-seekers, that going back to the office
in Mincing Lane was dull enough. They Were very sorry to lose him, too:
there could be no mistake about that; ever since he had so promptly
declined for them all Mr. Murray's invitation, they felt a sort of
respectful admiration for him, though from very different reasons. Uncle
Clair thought it was very sensible to return to town when his Uncle
Gregory so clearly wished it; Eddie and Agnes thought it was quite
splendid of him to have saved them from becoming more intimately
acquainted with their cousins; while the latter, in their lofty,
patronising way, considered Bertie was not such a bad sort of fellow,
and they would be kinder to him when they got back home, but they
certainly did not want to have to introduce him to their Eton friends,
Lionel and Arthur Delamere, whom Mr. Murray had given them leave to
invite. They would be sure to ask where Eddie and Bertie went to school,
and so, of course, hear all about the office; besides, Eddie looked so
proud and reserved, he would hardly prove an agreeable companion, nor
was Mr. Clair regarded very favourably. Mr. Murray was more annoyed by
the failure of his plan than any one else, and yet he felt in a way that
Bertie was quite right, for his Uncle Gregory would not easily have
forgiven him had he acted differently.

Mr. Gregory was not at the station when they arrived, but just as the
train was starting he came up, and after one quick glance up and down
the platform, entered a carriage without having recognised Uncle Clair
or Eddie, and Bertie found himself in a compartment with several strange
gentlemen, who eac