ear, by scrupulous economy, he might earn about half the sum required,
for the farmer had told him that if he continued to do well he would
raise his wages at the end of the first six months.

"And then," thought Geoff, "I might write home and tell them it was all
settled, and by selling all the things I have at home I might get the
rest of the money. Or--I would not even mind taking it as a _loan_ from
Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot. That would seem different; and of course I do owe
him a great deal now, in a way, for he must be doing everything for
mother and the girls, and if only I were a man that would be my
business."

And for a while, after coming to this resolution, he felt happier. His
old dreams of making a great fortune and being the good genius of his
family returned, and he felt more interest in learning all he could of
farm-work, that might be useful to him in his new life. But these
more hopeful feelings did not last long or steadily; the pain of the
home-sickness and loneliness increased so terribly, that at times he
felt as if he _could_ not bear it any longer. And he would probably,
strong as he was, have fallen ill, had not something happened.

It was about six weeks after the Sunday on which he had thought he had
overheard Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot's voice through the hedge. It was a
Sunday again. Geoff had been at church in the morning, and after dinner
he was sitting in a corner of the kitchen, feeling as if he had no
energy even to go for his favourite stroll in the grounds of the Hall,
when a sudden exclamation from Mrs. Eames made him look up. The farmer's
wife had been putting away some of the plates and dishes that had been
used at dinner, and in so doing happened to pull aside a large dish
leaning on one of the shelves of the high-backed dresser.

[Illustration: GEOFF READING VICKY'S LETTER.]

As she did so, a letter fell forward. It was addressed in a clear, good
hand to

"JAMES JEFFREYS,
AT MR. EAMES'S,
CRICKWOOD FARM,
SHALECRAY."

"Bless me!" cried the good woman. "What's this a-doing here? Jem, boy,
'tis thine. When can it have come? It may have been up there a good
bit."

Geoff started up and dashed forward with outstretched hand.

"Give it me! oh, give it me, please!" he said, in an eager, trembling
voice. A look of disappointment crossed his face for a moment when he
saw the writing; but he tore the envelope open, and then his eyes
brightened up again. For it contained another letter,