--could not help seeing that you do not seem cut out for the
law--er--hum--do not take to it--he has been kind enough to say that he
will give you a trial with him down in the country."

Tom's head, which had been hanging down, was suddenly raised, and the
words were on his lips to say No, he could not go, when he met the keen,
bright, piercing eyes fixed upon his, and those words died away.

"He has not definitely decided as to what he will put you to, but means
to test you, as it were, for a few months."

The singing in Tom's ears grew louder.

Go with that cold stern man, who had never seemed to take to him? It
would be like jumping out of the frying-pan into the fire. Impossible!
He could not--he would not go.

"There," said Mr Brandon in conclusion, after a good deal more, of
which Tom heard not a word; "it is all settled, and you will go down
with your uncle this morning, so you had better pack up your box as soon
as we leave the table. Now what have you to say to your uncle for his
kindness?"

"No: I will not go," thought Tom firmly; and once more he raised his
eyes defiantly to that searching pair, which seemed to be reading his;
but he did not say those words, for others quite different came halting
from his lips--"Thank you, Uncle Richard--and--and I will try so hard."

"Of course you will, my boy," said the gentleman addressed, sharply.
"But mind this, the country's very dull, my place is very lonely, all
among the pine-trees, and you will not have your cousin Sam to play
with."

"Haw haw!"

This was a hoarse laugh uttered by the gentleman in question.

"I beg your pardon, Sam?" said Uncle Richard, raising his eyebrows.

"I didn't speak, uncle," said Sam, "but I will, and I say a jolly good
job too, and good riddance of bad rubbish."

"Sam, dear, you shouldn't," said his mother, in a gentle tone of
reproof.

"Yes, I should; it's quite true."

"Hold your tongue, sir."

"All right, father; but we shall have some peace now."

"And I am to have all the disturbance, eh?" said Uncle Richard; "and the
china vases thrown at me and smashed, eh?"

Tom darted a quick look at his uncle, and saw that he was ready to give
him a nod and smile, which sent a thrill through him.

"You'll have to lick him half-a-dozen times a week," continued Sam.

"Indeed," said Uncle Richard good-humouredly; "anything else?"

"Yes, lots of things," cried Sam excitedly; "I could tell you--"

"Don't, please, my dear