but write it down so that I don't forget. It's so easy to have
things drop out of your memory."

Tom obeyed, and the visitor took up the slip of paper, glanced at it,
and nodded.

"That's right. Nice clear hand, that one can read easily."

"And Uncle James said my writing was execrable," thought Tom.

"Good-bye for the present, boy. Tell your uncle I've been, and that I
shall come on in time for dinner. Bye. Be a good boy, and stick to
your reading."

He nodded, shook hands rather coldly, and went out, leaving Tom looking
wistfully after him with the big Directory in his hands.

"They neither of them like me," he said to himself, feeling sadly
depressed, when he started, and turned sharply round.

"On'y me, Mr Tom," said the clerk. "I'll take that. Directories
always live in my office. I say, sir."

"Yes, Pringle."

"I used to wish I'd got a lot of rich old uncles, but I don't now.
Wouldn't give tuppence a dozen for 'em. Ketched again!--All right, Mr
Tom, sir; I'll put it away."

For the door opened once more, and their late visitor thrust in his
head.

"Needn't tell your uncle I shall come to-night."

Pringle disappeared with the Directory, and Uncle Richard gazed after
him in a grim way as he continued--

"Do you hear? Don't tell him I shall come; and you needn't mention that
I said he wouldn't want me, nor to his wife and boy neither. Bye."

The door closed again, and the inner door opened, and Pringle's head
appeared once more.

"Nor we don't neither, nor nobody else don't. I say, Mr Tom, I thought
it was the governor. Ever seen him before?"

"Only twice," said Tom. "He has been abroad a great deal. He only came
back to England just before dear mother--"

Tom stopped short, and Pringle nodded, looked very grave, and said
softly--

"I know what you was going to say, Mr Tom."

"And I saw him again," continued the lad, trying to speak firmly, "when
it was being settled that I was to come here to learn to be a lawyer.
Uncle James wanted Uncle Richard to bring me up, but he wouldn't, and
said I should be better here."

"Well, perhaps you are, Mr Tom, sir," said Pringle thoughtfully. "I
don't know as I should care to live with him."

"Nor I, Pringle, for--Here, I say, I don't know why I tell you all
this."

Pringle grinned.

"More don't I, sir. P'r'aps it's because we both get into trouble
together, and that makes people hang to one another. Steps again. Go
it, sir."