the little boy
slipped away unnoticed to the hall. His small soul was full of
agonised dismay and bewilderment. Was this to be the end of all his
hopes and expectations? His father did not want him; he said he did
not belong to him. This last assertion was like a stab. Bobby stood
looking out of the front door, which was open, into the sunny garden
beyond, and there the sight of his father's small motor standing
puffing away upon the drive filled him suddenly with a desperate
resolve.

'I won't be left behind. I will go with father. I don't belong to
this old House. I don't belong to grandmother. I belongs to him for
ever and ever. Amen!'

He darted down the steps towards the motor. Then a fear smote him.
The little girl. Who was she? Where was she? But the motor was
empty, there was no sign of her. He climbed into the car, and in
another moment was safely tucked out of sight under the seat. He had
been accustomed to hide in out of the way corners in his grandmother's
part of the house. He had often, when making secret excursions on his
own account, been nearly surprised by the 'grown-ups.' Sometimes he
had lain almost breathless under a chintz-covered couch, or crouched
behind a curtain till the moment of danger was past. His whole soul
was in revolt against his father's decision. He pitifully thought that
if only he explained things to his father, if only he was granted a
fair hearing, without feeling the cold disapproving gaze of his
grandmother upon him, he might win his case.

So he lay, grasping Nobbles tightly in agony lest he should be
discovered and dragged out of his hiding-place. It seemed hours to him
before he heard his father's voice and step, and his parting words to
his aunt, who had accompanied him to the hall door, were not reassuring.

'I must see him once again before leaving this part; but I'm quite
satisfied that you can do better for him than I can.'

Then he jumped into his car, and in a moment they were gliding down the
drive and out upon the high-road. A little exultant feeling came to
Bobby when they were once away and going at full speed. His heart
thumped loudly; he was extremely uncomfortable and dared not change his
position, but he could not help whispering to Nobbles in triumph:

'We're on, Nobbles, and we never will go back to the House again.'

It did not seem very long before the car stopped. Bobby heard men's
voices talking, but he did not move until h