en the two old officers began chatting eagerly together about past
times, while I sat by my mother as she held my hand, and I told her the
history of my escapade, which was hardly finished when my uncle said,--

"I'm sorry to come down and find you in disgrace, Frank. Not the
conduct of one who means to be an officer and a gentleman by and by."

"No, no: don't say any more," said the General. "The boy behaved very
well. Liked a bit of sport; all boys do. He shall have a bit of
rabbiting now and then."

"Then I shall say no more," said my uncle. "Try and be like your name,
my boy, and you will find me ready to forgive your scrapes; but you must
always be a gentleman."

"Amen to that," said the General, rising. "And now, my dear Mrs Burr,
I will not say good-bye, but _au revoir_. Seaborough here tells me you
are both going to stay in Hastings for a few days. I shall drive over
and see you. Good-bye."

He showed the same courtly respect to her again, and was rising to go
when the Doctor re-entered, and they parted the best of friends.

"No, no, no," cried the General, as the Doctor was coming out with him,
"stay with your visitors. Odd meeting, wasn't it? Here, you, Frank
Burr, come and see me off. Good-day, Doctor, good-day. You and I must
be better neighbours."

"I shall be proud," said the Doctor, and then I went to the cart with
the General, who stood holding my hand at the step, and I could feel a
coin therein.

"For you two boys," he said. "There, good-bye, Frank Burr. You must
grow up into a brave gentleman like your father. A thorough soldier,
sir. God bless you, my boy! Good-bye."

He took the reins and got in, the groom left the horse's head and
mounted beside him, and as the cart was driven off, and I stood there
with a sovereign in my hand, Bob Hopley, who was in his place behind,
gave me another solemn wink, while, after noticing the hired carriage in
which my mother and my uncle had driven over from Hastings, I went back
into the room and stayed with them, and afterwards went to show them the
building and grounds.

An hour after, they were gone, while I hurried off to find Mercer and
show him the sovereign.

"Well," he said, "that's all right. But, I say, don't some things turn
out rum! What are you going to do with all that money?"

"Half's yours," I said.

"Oh, is it? Well, let's make a bank. It'll do to pay old Lomax and
lots of things."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

My m