you here
alone for nothing, and I won't neither."

Tom felt as if he could not speak, and he had no need to, for the maid
slipped out of the room, and the next minute Uncle Richard entered to
nod to him gravely.

"Morning, my lad," he said rather sternly. "That's right--never waste
time."

How cold and repellent he seemed: so different to his manner upon the
previous night, when the boy had felt drawn towards him. The effect was
to make Tom feel more disposed than ever to carry out his plan, and he
was longing for the breakfast to be over, so that he could make his
start for the office.

But it wanted half-an-hour yet, and the boy had just plunged more deeply
into his book, when Uncle Richard said--

"And so you don't like the law, Tom?"

The boy started, for there was a different ring in the voice now. It
sounded as if it were inviting his confidence, and he was about to
speak, when his elder went on--

"To be sure, yes; you told me so last time I saw you."

"I have tried, sir, very hard," said Tom apologetically; "but it seems
as if my brains are not of the right shape to understand it."

"Humph, perhaps not," said his uncle, gazing at him searchingly; and Tom
coloured visibly, for it seemed to him that those penetrating eyes must
be reading the secret he was keeping. "And you don't like your cousin
Sam either?"

Tom was silent for a few moments.

"Why don't you answer my question, sir?"

"I was thinking, uncle, that it is Cousin Sam who does not like me."

"How can he when you knock him down, and then dash china vases at him,
sir?"

"I suppose I did knock him down, uncle, but not until he had kicked and
struck me. Throw vases at him!" cried the boy indignantly; "I wouldn't
be such a coward."

"Humph!" grunted his uncle, taking up the morning paper that Mary had
just brought in; and without another word he sat back in his chair and
began to read, while Tom, with his face still burning, turned once more
to his book, with a strange elation beginning to take the place of the
indignation he felt against his uncle, for it had suddenly occurred to
him that this was the last time he would have to make his head ache over
the hard, brain-wearying work. Then the elation died out again, for
what was to be his future fate?

He was musing over this, and wondering whether after all he dare trust
Pringle, when the door suddenly opened, Uncle Richard rustled and
lowered the paper, and Mrs Brandon entered