hould travel by, and in due
time I found myself on the Arrowfield platform and back at our new home,
where Mrs Stephenson and Tattsey were ready with the most friendly of
smiles.

"Everything has been going on splendidly," was the report given to me.
Piter had been carefully attended to, and the works watched as well as
if I had been at Arrowfield.

I felt annoyed, and, I suppose, showed it, for it seemed as if my uncles
were bantering me, but the annoyance passed off directly under the
influence of the warmth displayed by all three.

"I'm beginning to be hopeful now that work will go on steadily, that
this watching can be given up, and that we can take to a few country
excursions, some fishing, and the like."

That was Uncle Dick's expressed opinion; and I was glad enough to hear
it, for though I did not mind the work I liked some play.

Uncle Jack was just as hopeful; but Uncle Bob evidently was not, for he
said very little.

This time I had travelled by a day train, and I was quite ready to take
my turn at the watching that night. Uncle Jack, whose turn it was,
opposed my going, as I had been travelling so far; but I insisted,
saying that I had had my regular night's rest ever since I had left
them, and was consequently quite fresh.

I wanted to ask Uncle Bob where he had hidden the trap, but I had no
opportunity, and as neither Uncle Dick nor Uncle Jack made any allusion
to it I did not start the subject.

Perhaps Uncle Bob had not told them, meaning to have a few words with me
first.

It almost seemed like coming home to enter the works again, where Piter
was most demonstrative in his affection, and carried it to such an
extent that I could hardly get away.

I had a look round the gloomy old place at once, and felt quite a thrill
of pride in the faintly glowing furnaces and machinery as I thought of
the endless things the place was destined to produce.

"Look here, Cob," said Uncle Jack, "I shall lie down for three hours,
mind; and at the end of that time you are to wake me. It is only nine
o'clock now, and you can get over that time with a book. There will be
no need to walk round the place."

"Would Piter warn us, do you think?" I said.

"Oh, yes! It is getting quite a form our being here. The men are
toning down."

He threw himself on the bed, and I took up a book and read for an hour,
after which I had a walk through the gloomy workshops, and in and out of
the furnace-houses and smithie