Part 9 (1/2)

Then Toht plans

And repentant?

Not in the least He lay there thinking fiercely, only troubled by the idea of what he would do as soon as he had e penniless into that dense black cloud--the future

But there was no lifting of the black curtain He could see his way to the office to bid Pringle good-bye After that all was hidden

At the end of a quarter of an hour he juan to dress, while Sa

It did not matter, for he did not want to speak to hi that there was only a scratch or two, no swelling about his face, he went doith his bag of books to the breakfast-room, to read as usual for an hour before his uncle and aunt came down

In the hall he encountered the cook, who had to ”do” that part of the housework, and she rose fro, that a lump rose in Tom's throat, there was a dimness in his eyes, and his hand went out involuntarily for a silent good-bye

To his surprise a pair of plu round him, and he received two hearty kisses, and then there was a hisper in his ear--

”Don't you mind a bit, my dear You didn't deserve it; and as for Mr Sam, he's a beast”

”Thank you, cook,” said Tom huskily, ”thank you Good-bye”

”What! Oh no, it ain't good-bye neither, o, and so I won't I'll stop just to spite them, so there!”

Cook went off to seize a door-mat, carry it out on the front steps, and then and there she banged it down, and began to thuination she had Sam beneath her feet

”She didn't understand me,” said To that after all it would be very painful to go, but not shaken in his deterht and cheerful in her clean print dress, as shethe silver spoons into the china saucers ”Ain't it a nice ,” said To into a corner, sitting down and opening _Tidd's Practice_ for what his cousin called a grind

Then with a sigh he went on reading, giving quite a start when Mary had finished her preparations for breakfast, and ca, sir; she says she wouldn't go and leave you here alone for nothing, and I won't neither”

Tom felt as if he could not speak, and he had no need to, for the maid slipped out of the rooravely

”Morning, ht--never waste time”

How cold and repellent he seeht, when the boy had felt draards him The effect was to make Tom feel ing for the breakfast to be over, so that he could make his start for the office

But it wanted half-an-hour yet, and the boy had just plunged more deeply into his book, when Uncle Richard said--

”And so you don't like the law, To in the voice now It sounded as if it were inviting his confidence, and he was about to speak, when his elder went on--

”To be sure, yes; you told me so last time I saw you”