ose who are in _Punch_
every week, and I shall envy the fellows riding--but at least it will be
something to see."

"I wish you would not go to the Row, Pippo."

"Why, mother? Doesn't everybody go? And you never were here at this time
of the year before."

"No," she said, with a long breath of despair. No; of all times of the
year this was the one in which she had never risked him in London. And,
oh! that he had been anywhere in the world except London now!

Philip, who had been watching her countenance with great interest,
here patted her on the shoulder with condescending, almost paternal,
kindness. "Don't you be frightened, mother. I'll not get into any
mischief. I'll neither be rode over, nor robbed, nor run away. I'll
take as great care of myself as if you had been there."

"I'm not afraid that you will be ridden over or robbed," she said,
forcing a smile; "but there is one thing, Pippo. Don't talk to anybody
whom you--don't know. Don't let yourself be drawn into---- If you should
meet, for instance, that lady--who was in the theatre last night."

"Yes, mother?"

"Don't let her make acquaintance with you; don't speak to her, nor the
girl, nor any one that may be with her. At the risk even of being
uncivil----"

"Why, mother," he said, elevating his eyebrows, "how could I be uncivil
to a lady?"

"Because I tell you," she cried, "because you must--because I shall sit
here in terror counting every moment till you come back, if you don't
promise me this."

He looked at her with the most wondering countenance, half disapproving,
half pitying. Was she going mad? what was happening to her? was she
after all, though his mother, no better than the jealous foolish women
in books, who endeavoured at all costs to separate their children from
every influence but their own? How could Pippo think such things of his
mother? and yet what else could he think?

"I had better," he said, "if that is how you feel, mother, not go to the
Row at all."

"Much better, much better!" she cried. "I'll tell you what we'll do,
Pippo--you have never been to see--the Tower." She had run over all the
most far-off and unlikely places in her mind, and this occurred to her
as the most impossible of all to attract any visitor of whom she could
be afraid. "I have changed my mind," she added. "Well have a hansom, and
I will go with you to see the Tower."

"So long as you go with me," said Pippo, "I don't care where I go."

And they set