good-bye to Pringle, who would not
hinder him. On the contrary, he would be sure to give him advice, and
perhaps help him as to his future.

"Poor old Pringle won't say stay," he muttered; and reaching out of bed,
he felt in his trousers pocket on the chair for a halfpenny. He could
not spare it, but it was the only missile he could think of then, and he
held it poised ready to throw as he listened to his cousin's heavy
breathing.

He threw the coin forcibly, so that it struck the wall just above Sam's
head, and fell upon his face.

There was no movement, and the heavy, guttural breathing went on.

Tom waited a few minutes, and then slipped out of bed, crossed to his
cousin's side, and gave the iron bedstead a slight shake, then a hard
one. Next he touched his shoulder, and finished by laying a cold hand
upon his hot brow.

But the result was always the same--the heavy, hoarse breathing.

Satisfied that he might do anything without arousing his cousin, he
returned to his own bed, slipped on his trousers, and sat down to think.

There was the bag of books on the top of his little chest of drawers,
and he had only to take them out, lay them down, and after carefully
pulling out the drawer, pack the bag full of linen, and add an extra
suit. It would be a tight cram, but he would want the things, and they
would prove very useful.

But there was a hitch here. All these things were new, his old were
worn-out, and his uncle had paid for all these in spite of his aunt's
suggestion, that there were a good many of Sam's old things that might
be altered to fit.

He stumbled over this. They were not his; and at last, in a spirit of
proud independence, he ignored his own services to his uncle, and
stubbornly determined that he would take nothing but the clothes in
which he stood.

"And some day I'll send the money to pay for them," he said proudly,
half aloud.

"Gug--gug--gug--ghur-r-r-r," came from his cousin's bed as if in
derision.

But Tom's mind was made up, and undressing once more he lay down to
think, but did not, for, quite satisfied now as to his plans, no sooner
had his head touched the pillow than, utterly wearied out, he dropped
asleep.

It seemed to him that he had only just closed his eyes, when, in a
dreamy way, he heard the customary tapping at his door, followed by a
growl from Sam, bidding Mary not make "that row."

Then Tom was wide-awake, thinking of his over-night plans.

And repentan