ves, and stuffed them under his bed-clothes, and was looking for the
others, when he was sent down in turn by Sam.

"You savage beast!" cried the latter. "I'll teach you to do that;" and
flinging himself on Tom's chest, he nipped him with his knees, and began
to belabour him with his fists.

Then a fierce struggle began. Sam was jerked off, and for a few moments
there was an angry up-and-down wrestle, ending in Sam becoming the
undermost, with Tom occupying his position in turn, and holding his
cousin down just as the bedroom door was opened, and Mr James Brandon
entered in his dressing-gown, and holding up a candle above his head.

"What is the meaning of all this?" he cried angrily, as Tom sprang up
and darted into bed.

"Yes, you may well say that, father," cried Sam, rising slowly, and
beginning to try and fasten the neck of his shirt, but vainly, for the
button-hole was torn and the button off. "If that country wild beast is
to stop here I shan't sleep in the same room."

Sam's father turned to Tom, who now lay in bed staring, mentally stunned
by the tone his cousin had taken.

"What is the meaning of this?" he cried. "How dare you, sir!"

"Why, he began at me, uncle, while I was asleep, and--"

"Silence, sir! I will not have the calm and repose of my house
disturbed by such disgraceful conduct. Past twelve o'clock, you ought
to be asleep, and here is a regular riot in the place."

"There, I told you how it would be," said Sam in an ill-used,
remonstrative tone.

"Oh!" exclaimed Tom, but no more, for a hot feeling of indignation
forced him to be silent, stung as he was by the injustice of the
disturbance being laid at his door.

"_Oh_! indeed!" cried his uncle. "It is scandalous, sir. Out of
charity and compassion for your forlorn state, I give you a home and
brilliant prospects, and you set yourself to work in every way possible
to make me repent my kindness. It is abominable. You make friends with
the servants; you are idle and stupid and careless beyond belief; and
when you come back at night to my peaceful quiet home, you must
introduce your low, blackguardly habits, and begin quarrelling and
fighting with your cousin."

"I can't speak--I won't speak," said Tom to himself, as he set his teeth
hard. "And as for Sam, I'll--"

He had not time to say to himself what he would do to his cousin, for
his uncle had worked himself up now to deliver a sounding tirade upon
his base, disgraceful c