ing, the porter entered the
third class room with a telegram in his hand, which he took straight to
the master.

"Richardson," said the master, "this is for you."

Dick, who was at the moment engaged in drawing a circle on his Euclid
cover with a pencil and a piece of string, much to the admiration of his
neighbours, jumped up as if he had been shot, and with perturbed face
went up to receive the missive.

He tore it open, and, as he glanced at its contents, his anxious face
relaxed into a complacent grin.

"From G. Richardson, London. I shall reach Templeton at 3:5 this
afternoon. Meet me, if you can."

"Huzzah, Georgie!" said he, as he returned to his seat. "Father's
coming down by the 3:5. Let's all go and meet him."

The "Firm" said they would, and, accordingly, that afternoon after
dinner the trio sallied forth in great spirits and good-humour to give
the anxious father a reception.

With the easy memory of youth, they forgot all about the probable object
of his visit; or, if they remembered it, it was with a sort of passing
feeling of relief that the Tom White "row" was now as good as over--at
any rate, as far as they were concerned.

When Mr Richardson, haggard and anxious, descended from the carriage,
it was a decided shock to encounter the beaming countenance of his son
and hear his light-hearted greeting.

"Hullo, father--jolly you've come! Old White's cab is bagged, but
Swisher's got a good horse to go. Here's Georgie and Coote--you know."

The bewildered gentleman greeted his son's friends kindly, and then,
disclaiming all intention of taking anybody's cab, drew his son aside.

"What is all this, my boy? Your mother and I almost broke our hearts
over your letter."

"Oh, it's all serene--really, father," said the boy, a little disturbed
by his father's anxious tones. "We really wouldn't have sent if the
magistrate hadn't said we'd better--would we, Georgie?"

"No; he said that was our only chance," replied Georgie.

"If your two friends will take my bag up to the 'George,'" said Mr
Richardson, despairing of getting any lucid information out of the
"Firm" as a body, "I should like a walk with you, Basil, on the strand."

Coote and Georgie departed with the bag, and the father and son being
left alone, Dick gave a simple and unvarnished narrative of the legal
difficulties in which he and his friends were involved.

Mr Richardson's heart beat lighter as he heard it. The scrape was ba