before I shall be that, Tony," he said, with a
smile; "but if you really have made up your mind to be a soldier, come
with me. There's been bad blood between us up to this, but now we'll be
good friends and help one another along."

"Ah, we'll be friends, sir, good friends too! I've had my lesson, and I
sha'n't need another. I've acted like a brute up to this, but now I
mean to be steady, and I mean to show yer too that I ain't bad
altogether."

Phil was astonished at the turn matters had taken; but he recognised
that Tony had really made up his mind to reform, and at once determined
to help him to adhere to that resolution.

"Very well, Tony," he said, "we'll enlist together. My month is up
to-morrow, and on the following day we'll take the shilling. I'm going
to join the Grenadier Guards."

"Grenadier Guards or any Guards for me, Phil. It don't make a ha'poth
of difference so far as I'm concerned. Just fix what it's to be, and
I'll be there with yer."

"Then it's settled, Tony. We're for the Guards. Come to the house
where Sergeant-major Williams lives, at nine o'clock the day after
to-morrow."

They shook hands, as though to seal the compact, and separated, Phil
returning to the van, where he spent part of the day in writing to Mr
Western and to Joe, informing them of the step he was taking. To his
previous letter Mr Western had deigned no answer, for he was thoroughly
upset by its contents, and from that day firmly resolved never again to
have any dealings with his adopted son. He was an utter failure and a
scamp, and it only needed Joe Sweetman's efforts to defend him to settle
the matter.

"It is just what I told you would happen," Joe had said defiantly. "The
lad has spirit, and far from being the rogue you think him, is filled
with the desire to see life and make his way in the world. I am not a
great judge of character, but if ever there was a youth unfitted for
office life, that one is Phil. You have only yourself to thank after
all. You have endeavoured to force a profession on him, whereas you
should have given the lad an opportunity of selecting one for himself.
Mark my words, Edward: Phil will live to do well and be a credit to you,
and one of these days you will acknowledge that the step he is taking
now was a good one and for the best. Now I'll write to him, and give
him a few words of advice."

And this Joe did, sending a characteristic letter, written not to damp
Phil's hopes