he General spoke in so severe a voice, and frowned so much, that Mercer
looked at him shrinkingly, and the harder as the old man brought his
hand down heavily upon his shoulder--Tom's face seeming to say, "What
have I done now?"

"So, sir, you have been longing for a watch all this time, have you,
eh?"

"Yes, Sir Hawkhurst," said Tom slowly. Then, with animation, "But I did
always try very hard not to want one."

"Then you shall have one, as good a one as money can buy."

Mercer's face was a picture of astonishment, changing to doubt and then
to delight as he fully realised that the General meant it.

"Do you hear, Frank? Oh, I say!" Then, catching the old man's hand in
both of his; he cried, "May I have a hunter?"

"You shall, my boy. And Frank Burr, you shall have one too."

"No," said my uncle, "that's my present. Frank, my lad, we've all been
wrong; but I can't apologise, for you led us astray."

"Oh, that's enough, Seaborough," cried the General. "The boys don't
want to hear another word. Eh?--you were going to speak, Doctor."

"Only a few words, sir. Colonel Seaborough, Mrs Burr, I cannot tell
you how grieved I am for this painful episode--believe me."

My mother went to the Doctor and placed her hand in his.

"Pray say no more," she said gently.

"I will not, my dear madam, for your looks tell me that I am forgiven
for my share of the mental agony I have caused you.--Of course, you will
take your son away and place him in another school?"

"Eh? What for?" said the General sharply. "You don't want him to go,
do you, stuffy boy?"

"Oh no, sir," cried Mercer.

"Do you want to go, Frank?"

"No, sir," I said eagerly; "I should like to stay."

"Of course," cried the General. "He's to stop, eh, Seaborough?"

"I should regret it, if he left," said my uncle.

"To be sure you would, and I should miss him. Don't expel him, Doctor."

"I? I should only be too glad if he stays."

"Then that's all right," said the General. "Ah, here is Mrs Brown."

He crossed to place a chair for her, and then stood looking from one to
the other.

"Yes," he said, "that's it. Ladies, will you honour a solitary old man
with your company to dinner at my place this evening? Doctor, will you
bring your wife? Seaborough and Mrs Burr, pray come over with me now,
and, if the Doctor does not mind, I should like to take these two boys
back with us."

Consent was given directly, and the rest of that day was sp