he boy leaned forward to
wave his hand in return, mingled with the trampling of the horse, and
the rattle of the wheels, there came his uncle's voice shouting Charing
Cross to the cabman from the kerb, and from the area gate--

"Good-bye, Master Tom, good-bye!"

"Why, the boy's wet-eyed!" said Uncle Richard in a peculiarly sneering
voice. "What a young scoundrel you must have been, sir, to make those
two servants shout after you like that! There, now for a fresh home,
boy, and the beginning of a new life, for your dear dead mother's sake."

"Uncle!" gasped Tom, with the weak tears now really showing in his eyes,
for there was a wonderful change in his companion's voice, as he laid a
firm hand upon his shoulder.

"Yes, Tom, your uncle, my boy. I never quarrel with my brother James or
his wife, but I don't believe quite all that has been said about you."

All thought of running away to seek his fortune faded out of Tom
Blount's brain, as he sat there with his teeth pressed together, staring
straight away between the horse's ears, trying hard to be firm.

But after long months of a very wretched life it was stiff work to keep
his feelings well within bounds.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

"Now, Tom, cloak-room; come along. I've got some tackle to take down
with us. Only ten minutes before we start. Here, porter, luggage--
quick!"

A man came forward with a barrow, and after taking the luggage from the
cab, followed to the cloak-room, from whence sundry heavy,
peculiar-looking packages and a box were handed out and trundled to the
train; and in a few minutes, with his heart beating wildly, and a
feeling of excitement making him long to jump up and shout aloud, Tom
sat there watching the houses and trees seem to glide more and more
swiftly past the windows as the speed increased. For to him it was like
being suddenly freed from prison; and instead of the black cloud which
had been hanging before his eyes--the blank curtain of the future which
he had vainly tried to penetrate--he was now gazing mentally ahead along
a vista full of bright sunshine and joy.

There were two other passengers in the carriage, who, like his uncle,
were soon absorbed in their papers, and not a word was spoken until
these two got out at the first stopping-place, twenty miles from town;
and as soon as the porter had given the door that tremendous unnecessary
bang so popular with his fraternity, and the train was speeding on
again, Uncle Richa