oward Trinity a proud and
happy boy. Half-way up Queen's Lane, finding himself between blank
walls, with nobody in sight, he even skipped.

CHAPTER XX.

TAFFY GIVES A PROMISE.

The postman halted by the foot-bridge and blew his horn. The sound
sent the rabbits scampering into their burrows; and just as they
began to pop out again, Taffy came charging across the slope.
Whereupon they drew back their noses in disgust, and to avoid the
sand scattered by his toes.

The postman held up a blue envelope and waved it. "Here, 'tis come,
at last!"

"It may not be good news," said Taffy, clutching it, and then turning
it over in his hand.

"Well, that's true. And till you open it, it won't be any news at
all."

"I wanted mother to be first to know."

"Oh, very well--only, as you say, it mightn't be good news."

"If it's bad news, I want to be alone. But why should they trouble
to write?"

"True again. I s'pose now you're sure it _is_ from them?"

"I can tell by the seal."

"Take it home, then," said the postman. "Only if you think 'tis for
the sake of a twiddling sixteen shilling a week that I traipse all
these miles every day--"

Taffy fingered the seal. "If you would really like to know--"

"Don't 'ee mention it. Not on any account." He waved his hand
magnanimously and trudged off toward Tredinnis.

Taffy waited until he disappeared behind the first sand-hill, and
broke the seal. A slip of parchment lay inside the envelope.

"_This is to certify_--"

He had passed! He pulled off his cap and waved it round his head.
And once more the rabbits popped back into their burrows.

Toot--toot--toot!--It was that diabolical postman. He had fetched a
circuit round the sand-hill, and was peeping round the north side of
it and grinning as he blew his horn.

Taffy set off running, and never stopped until he reached the
Parsonage and burst into the kitchen. "Mother--It's all right!
I've passed!"

Somebody was knocking at the door. Taffy jumped up from his knees,
and Humility made the lap of her apron smooth.

"May I come in?" asked Honoria, and pushed the door open.
She stepped into the middle of the kitchen and dropped Taffy an
elaborate courtesy.

A thousand congratulations, sir!"

"Why, how did you know?"

"Well, I met the postman; and I looked in through the window before
knocking."

Taffy bit his lip. "People seem to be taking a deal of interest in
us all of a sudden," he said t