protest she went upstairs, and returned with a
decent-looking cap, which I promised to return, and then, bidding my
Samaritan-like hostess good-bye, I walked firmly out of her sight, and
then literally began to hobble, and was glad as soon as I could get into
the main road to hail one of the town cabs and be driven home, not
feeling strong enough to go to the works and tell of my mishap.

Mr Tomplin came in that evening after Uncle Dick had heard all my
narrative and Uncle Bob had walked up and down the room, driving his
fist into his hand every now and then with a loud _pat_.

We had had a long conversation, in which I had taken part with a
terribly aching head, and I should have gone to bed only I would not
show the white feather.

For they all three made this a reason why I should give up to them, and
after all go back.

"You see the men are dead against us, Cob, and the boys follow suit, and
are against you." So said Uncle Dick.

"All the men are not against you," I said. "Look at Pannell! He has
come round, and," I added, with a laugh that hurt me horribly, "I shall
have some of the boys come round and help me."

"The young scoundrels!" cried Uncle Bob. _Pat_--that was his fist
coming down into his hand. "The young scoundrels!"

"Well, you've said that twenty times at least, Bob," said Uncle Jack.

"Enough to make me!" said Uncle Bob sharply. "The young scoundrels!"
_Pat_.

"I only wish I'd been there with a good handy riding-whip," said Uncle
Jack. "There would have been some wailing among them."

"Yes; and summonses for assault, and all that bother," said Uncle Dick.
"We don't want to come to blows, Jack, if we can help it."

"They are beyond bearing," cried Uncle Bob, keeping up his walk; "the
young scoundrels!" _Pat_.

"My dear Bob," cried Uncle Dick, who was very much out of temper; "if
you would be kind enough to leave off that trot up and down."

"Like a hungry lion," said Uncle Jack.

"In the Zoo," cried Uncle Dick, "you would very much oblige me."

"I can't sit down," said Uncle Bob, thumping his hand. "I feel too much
excited."

"Then bottle it up for future use," said Uncle Dick. "You really must."

"To attack and hurt the boy in that way! It's scandalous. The young
ruffians--the young savages!"

Just then Mr Tomplin came in, looked sharply round, and saw there was
something wrong.

"I beg your pardon," he said quickly; "I'll look in another time."

"No, no," said Unc