nephew," said Uncle Richard, interrupting him;
"I could not bear so much responsibility all at once. You might make me
repent of my determination."

"And you jolly soon will," cried Sam maliciously; "for of all the--"

"Hush, Sam, my darling!" cried his mother.

"You hold your tongue now, sir," said Mr Brandon; "and I should feel
obliged by your making haste down to the office. You can tell Pringle
that your cousin is not coming any more."

Tom started, and looked sharply from one to the other.

"Mayn't I go and say good-bye to Pringle, uncle?" he cried.

"No, sir," said his Uncle James coldly; "you will only have time to get
your box packed. Your uncle is going to catch the ten fifty-five from
Charing Cross."

"Yes," said Uncle Richard; "and you can write to your friend."

"Or better not," said Mr Brandon. "Tom has been rather too fond of
making friends of people beneath him. There, my lad, you had better go
and be getting ready; and I sincerely hope that you will make good use
of your new opportunity."

Tom hardly knew how he got out of the room, for he felt giddy with
excitement. Then he was not going to run away, but to be taken down
into Surrey by his Uncle Richard--and for what?

Would he behave well to him? He looked cold and stern, but he was not
on the previous night. Young as he was, Tom could read that there was
another side to his character. Yes, he must go, he thought; and then he
came face to face with Mary, who came bustling out of a bedroom.

"La! Master Tom, how you startled me. Not gone to the office?"

"No, Mary. I'm going away for good with Uncle Richard."

"Oh, I am glad! No, I ain't--I'm sorry. But when?"

"This morning--almost directly."

"My! I'll go and tell cook."

Tom reached his room, packed up his things as if in a dream, and bore
the box down-stairs, his cousin having left the house some time. Then,
still as if in a dream, he found himself in the breakfast-room, and
heard Mary told to whistle for a cab.

Ten minutes later his uncle's Gladstone was on the roof side by side
with the modest old school box; and after saying good-bye to all, they
were going down the steps.

"Jump in first, Tom," said Uncle Richard, "and let's have no silly
crying about leaving home."

Tom started, and stared at his uncle with his eyes wonderfully dry then,
but the next moment they were moist, for two female figures were at the
area gate waving their handkerchiefs; and as t