imed--

"Is there anything the matter with the veal pie, sir?"

"Eh? Matter, Mrs Fidler?" said Uncle Richard. "I hope not. I really
don't know. Oh, I see. I have hardly tasted it. The fact is, Mrs
Fidler, I am in trouble."

Tom jumped in his chair.

"David has told him," he said to himself, and he felt hot and cold.

"I have heard something this morning which has disturbed me a good
deal."

Uncle Richard turned his eyes upon his nephew, who tried to speak, but
no words would come.

"Dear, dear me, sir," said the housekeeper. "I am so sorry."

"I know you are," said Uncle Richard. "The fact is, my brother met with
an accident some little time ago, and it was thought to be of no
consequence, but it seems that it is, and the doctors have ordered that
he should at once have change of air. He has written to me this morning
to that effect."

"Then he don't know anything about it," said Tom, with a sigh of relief,
which gave place to a feeling of annoyance, for he wished now that his
uncle did know.

"He asks me to have him here for a few days or weeks, and of course I
have written to beg that he will come. I hope our air will set him
right again, and that it is not so serious as he thinks."

"Then you'd like me to get a room ready for him at once, sir?" said Mrs
Fidler, with alacrity.

"If you please, Mrs F."

"It shall be done, sir. I am so glad--I mean so sorry. I was afraid
something was wrong here."

"No, Mrs Fidler, there is nothing wrong here; but I'm afraid, Tom, that
the visitor will put a stop to our telescopic work."

Tom seized his opportunity, and blurted out--

"It is stopped, uncle: the speculum is broken in three pieces."

"What!" cried Uncle Richard, turning pale.

"Completely spoiled, uncle."

"How, in the name of all that's unfortunate, did you do that, sir?"

It was Tom's turn to start now, for his uncle had immediately jumped to
the conclusion that it was his doing, and his words in answer sounded
lame and inconclusive.

"I didn't break it, uncle; I found it on the floor."

"Found it on the floor!" cried Uncle Richard, sarcastically. "It was
the cat, I suppose. Was the window left open?"

"I found--"

"There, hold your tongue now," said Uncle Richard. "I have something
else to think about. You will have everything ready, Mrs Fidler. I
have been so separated from my brother nearly all my life, that I feel I
owe him every attention."

"I will attend to it al