Part 71 (1/2)

”Going to walk part of the ithto walk all the ith you, uncle, and carry your bag,”

said To about the telescope, and the next things to be done, so that the long walk to the station wasin, and Uncle Richard stepped into his compartment

”Are you sure you wouldn't like ain?” whispered To

”Certain I'll give your lided away, and Tom started back for home with his ton Crescent; and then thoughts flew on to the reater telescope would bethe heavens

Then Tohts careat pine-tree, and he was still busy over that, and the great gipsy-like boy's habits,--poaching, probably stealing, and ht of the lad hi so, which soon after leaped out into the road

Toreen turf which ined the way, so that he was close up to the lad before he was noticed, and then Pete gave a bound and shot into the coppice, followed by his dog; but once ive hiood, or he wouldn't have rushed away like that,” thought To very little the worse for his long o up and busy himself in the laboratory; but to his surprise Mrs Fidler stopped hio away, Master Tom; it's close to one o'clock, and lunch will be ready We will have regular dinner at seven, when your uncle coht,” said Tom

”Oh, he will, my dear, if he possibly can, you ht, for soon after half-past six the station fly brought Uncle Richard back, tired, but looking brighter than when he started

”How is he?” said Tom anxiously

”Better, e caone, my boy, and the doctor thinks that he will come round now”

Tom looked very hard in his uncle's eyes, and Uncle Richard looked very hard in his, but neither of theh, and that was, that the doctor had said he had soer there, and its removal had achieved what no medical man could have done, and so quickly that it seemed to be like a miracle

A week passed, and two answers to letters of inquiry ca that Uncle Ja fast

Another week, and only one letter came, with the sament caone down to Bournee

”I think, Tom, we may as well finish the telescope,” said Uncle Richard dryly ”Let's set to work at once”

That same day Mrs Fidler, who had heard the news, seized an opportunity to deliver her opinions to Toht, sir,” she said, ”he was never really bad It was all nerves and fidgetting about hiht he was in a very bad state, and kept on oing to die It was nothing but nerves”

”It was so was he did not confide to the housekeeper

”I'ain,” he said to himself; ”but I hope neither he nor Cousin Sam will come down here”

CHAPTER FORTY

Time went on at its custoain, where he was detained for so that he would not be back yet, but that he hoped Tom would complete a perfect plane ht do better, and get a truer i all about Pete Warboys and his dog, Tom worked away as busily as if his uncle were at his elbow