saw his
cousin's gazing at the letter standing on edge between them.

Sam turned pale as he now met Tom's keen look.

It was all momentary, in the interval of Mr Brandon's first words and
his next question. "Then how is it that Mr Wilcox has not received it,
and been on to me at home full of anxiety about not having my answer to
an important question?"

"I don't know, father," said Sam sharply.

"Are you sure you posted the letter?"

"Oh yes, father. No; I recollect now: some one came in on business, to
ask for you, and I told Tom Blount here to take it directly. Oh!" he
cried, "I say, it is too bad. Why, you didn't take it, Tom. Here's the
letter, father, all the time."

He took up and held out the unfortunate missive, shaking his head at Tom
the while.

"You never told me to take any letter yesterday," said Tom quietly.

"Oh--my! What a lie, to be sure!" cried Sam, as if perfectly astounded.
"Pringle must have heard me at the time."

"Of course," said his father, speaking with his lips tightly compressed,
so that his voice sounded muttering and indistinct. Then aloud--"Here,
Pringle."

_Scroop_ went Pringle's stool, and he hurried in. "You call, sir?"

"Yes. What time was it when you heard Mr Samuel tell his cousin to go
out and post a letter?"

"Never heard anything of the kind, sir, at any time."

"That will do," said his employer.

"Row on," thought Pringle. "I hope he isn't going to catch it again."

Then as the door closed Mr Brandon, whose countenance was flushed and
his eyes angry-looking, turned upon his son.

"Do you think I am blind, sir?" he said sharply.

"No, father: I don't know what you mean."

"Then I'll tell you, sir. I mean that you have told me a miserable
falsehood--a disgraceful falsehood."

"I haven't, father. I told Tom here to take the letter;" and he gave
his cousin a fierce look which evidently said, "Say I told you, or it
will be the worse for you," and he accompanied the look with a sharp
kick under the desk, which took effect on Tom's shin, rousing him to a
pitch of fury and obstinate determination.

"Oh, you haven't, eh?" said Mr Brandon. "Tom, did your cousin tell you
to post that letter?"

"Yes, you know I did," cried Sam.

"No, uncle."

"I did. You've forgotten it, or else you're saying that out of spite,"
cried Sam desperately.

"I haven't forgotten it, and I'm not saying what I did out of spite,"
said Tom firmly. "Indeed I spoke the tru