in a moment, and Tom
advanced from behind the shelter of the great sofa. The Doctor nodded to
the children, who went out, casting curious and amused glances at the
three young scarecrows.

"Well, my little fellows," began the Doctor, drawing himself up with his
back to the fire, the chisel in one hand and his coat-tails in the
other, and his eyes twinkling as he looked them over; "what makes you so
late?"

"Please, sir, we've been out Big-side Hare-and-hounds, and lost our
way."

"Hah! you couldn't keep up, I suppose?"

"Well, sir," said East, stepping out, and not liking that the Doctor
should think lightly of his running powers, "we got round Barby all
right, but then--"

"Why, what a state you're in, my boy!" interrupted the Doctor, as the
pitiful condition of East's garments was fully revealed-to him.

"That's the fall I got, sir, in the road," said East, looking down at
himself; "the Old Pig came by--"

"The what?" said the Doctor.

"The Oxford coach, sir," explained Hall.

"Hah! yes, the Regulator," said the Doctor.

[Illustration: OLD THOMAS IN HIS DEN. P. 153.]

"And I tumbled on my face trying to get up behind," went on East.

"You're not hurt, I hope?" said the Doctor.

"Oh no, sir."

"Well now, run up-stairs, all three of you, and get clean things on, and
then tell the housekeeper to give you some tea. You're too young to try
such long runs. Let Warner know I've seen you. Good night."

"Good night, sir." And away scuttled the three boys in high glee.

"What a brick, not to give us even twenty lines to learn!" said the
Tadpole, as they reached their bedroom; and in half-an-hour afterwards
they were sitting by the fire in the housekeeper's room at a sumptuous
tea, with cold meat, "twice as good a grub as we should have got in the
hall," as the Tadpole remarked with a grin, his mouth full of buttered
toast. All their grievances were forgotten, and they were resolving to
go out the first big-side next half, and thinking Hare-and-hounds the
most delightful of games.

A day or two afterwards the great passage outside the bedrooms was
cleared of the boxes and portmanteaus, which went down to be packed by
the matron, and great games of chariot-racing, and cock-fighting, and
bolstering, went on in the vacant space, the sure sign of a closing
half-year.

Then came the making-up of parties for the journey home, and Tom joined
a party who were to hire a coach, and post with four horses to Oxford.