"That is the truth, but not all the truth. Sir, may I ask you the
object of your very early excursion with my son?"

"Well, sir, the fact is, this young gentleman became involved last
night in a little dispute which necessitated an exchange of pistol
shots, and your son, I must say, behaved in a most gallant manner."

"Not touched, Jack?"

"No, dad."

"Did you shoot t'other fellow?"

"No, father; I only shoot game--human or brute. I leave gamekeepers and
hangmen to exterminate vermin."

"Well, now, cut along home. Your mother is in no end of a funk about
you."

* * * *

So Jack went home, and, having explained the reason of his absence, was
soon forgiven by all, except little Emily, who boxed his ears,
declaring it was evident he did not care about her, or he would not
have risked his life in such a manner.

Then she refused, for a whole hour, to speak to him; at the expiration
of which time she kissed him, and asked his pardon for having shown
such bad temper.

"All right, Em. You're a brick."

"Don't talk slang, sir."

* * * *

That same evening they left Paris, and at an early hour the next
morning were in London.

CHAPTER CVIII.

"LAST SCENE OF ALL, THAT ENDS THIS STRANGE, EVENTFUL HISTORY."

"Jack."

"Yes, father."

"What do you think you are going to be? I mean what business or
profession?"

This conversation took place about a week after their return to
England.

"Would you like to be a doctor or a lawyer, or become a great financier
in the City?" continued Harkaway senior.

"Neither of those, thank you. I have been too much used to plenty of
fresh air and exercise to settle down to an indoor occupation; the sea
is my choice."

"It is not your mother's choice, so you may just give up that notion at
once and for ever."

"Well, next to that I should like to have a nice compact farm of about
six hundred acres in a part of the country where there is good
shooting, hunting and fishing."

"Ah, that's better."

"Then we'll consider that settled, dad."

"Yes; but you must finish your education first; that has been much
neglected."

So the result was that both young Jack and Harry Girdwood were sent to
reside for a year with a clergyman, who was also a farmer, and, who
undertook, while improving their general education, to give them a
practical knowledge of agriculture.