going off of his own accord.

"And," Vicky went on innocently, "was it not _wonderful_ that you should
have come to uncle's own place, and got work with Mr. Eames, whom he has
known so long?" In which Geoff fully agreed; and it was not till many
years later that he knew how it had really been--how Mr. Byrne had
planned all for his safety and good, with the help of one of the
cleverest young detectives in the London police, "Ned Jowett," the
innocent countryman whom Geoff had patronized!

The boy told all he had been thinking of doing, his idea of emigrating,
his wish to be "independent," and gain his own livelihood. And his
mother explained to him what she herself had not thoroughly known till
lately--that for many years, ever since her husband's death, they had
owed far more to Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot than they had had any idea of.

"Your father was the son of his dearest friend," she said. "Mr. Byrne
has no relations of his own. We were left very poor, but he never let
me know it. The lawyers by mistake wrote to _me_ about the loss of
money, which uncle had for long known was as good as lost, so that in
reality it made little difference. So you see, Geoff, what we owe
him--_everything_--and you must be guided by his wishes entirely."

They were kind and good wishes. He did not want Geoff to emigrate, but
he sympathized in his love for the country. For two or three years Geoff
was sent to a first-rate school, where he got on well, and then to an
agricultural college, where he also did so well that before he was
twenty he was able to be the squire's right hand in the management of
his large property, and in this way was able to feel that, without
sacrificing his independence, he could practically show his gratitude.
They say that some part of the estate will certainly be left to Geoff at
Mr. Byrne's death; but that, it is to be hoped, will not come to pass
for many years yet, for the old gentleman is still very vigorous, and
the Hall would certainly not seem itself at all if one did not hear his
"Hoot-toot, hoot-toot!" sounding here, there, and everywhere, as he
trots busily about.

[Illustration]

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.

***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GREAT UNCLE HOOT-TOOT***

******* This file should be named 29295.txt or 29295.zip *******

This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/9/2/9/29295