Great Uncle Hoot-Toot

pstairs to the drawing-room. Geoff glan

I stay with you

on his goo

tleman glan

've nothing better to do,"

ve got all done, except a lit

you prett

o's at school in London. It's pretty much the same

melancholy," said Mr.

aid Geoff. "But, you see, when a fello

entleman; but Geoff detect

f my skating, or boati

for the school games?" in

But there's lots of things I'd like to do, if mother wasn't afraid. I should like to ride, or at least to have a

s a pity your mother didn't co

e. But I'd rather have been at a boarding-school in the country; I do so detest London. An

be?" inquired th

ould have more, if I'm to stay properly at school. There's Dick Colethorne, where I was stayi

nd in somewhat restricted cir

y. "His father's a very rich ma

times as rich as Cr?sus, I think he's making a tremendous mistak

n't want as much as he has

re talk about all this. I don't want to keep your mother waiting, as I promised to talk some more to her this evening. So we'll go up

t it with you, sir; I don't see but that at my age I might now and then take a glass of sherry-or

e with you. Nor do I see the fun of taking a thing you 'don't care about,' just for the

Geoff's face did not wear its pleasantest

whispered to Vicky; "I believe El

achful eyes. "Oh, Geoff," she

ever so much harder than most of the fellows, and I never get any thanks for it; and everything I want is grudged me. My umbrella'

t had it long,

u're getting as bad as the res

oom with his little sister, and had raised his

m the other side of the room; "what's all that about ov

looked up

ky, eagerly; "we

t, pray?" pers

to vex Geoff, but she was unused t

brella," she said

entleman. "What could there be so interestin

nd if I say I need a new one, they'll all be down upon m

one," said his mother, trying to speak lightly. "You kn

other ears besides hers-for it is a curious fact that old people, when they

ays the way if

d he did not wish to be alone with her to talk about Geoff, as she probably would

show to advantage; and though his mother wore herself out with talking to him and trying to bring him to a more reasonable frame of mind, it

y entertained his poor little sister with his projects of r

that in a way which G

Good night," it struck him that h

ot better to-morrow, I must have a doctor to see her. And," he added in a lower tone sti

thing to do," Elsa replied. "But all the same,

r. Byrne. "Try and keep her quiet in the mean time, my dear. I hav

rather f

y excuses for Geoff, but it is true that he has nev

him, my dear; I am only thinking of his good. He's not a bad lad at bottom; there's good stuff in him. But he's ruining him

he sound of wheels driving rapidly up to the door. He knew nothing of it all. For, alas! his tiresome, fidgety temper had caused him to be looked upon as no better than a sort of

ange unreal feeling, as if he were still dreaming. And when he saw her face, the unreal feeling did not go away. She seemed so unlike herself, in her long white dr

hat is the matter? Isn't it dreadfully late-or-o

bed all night-Frances and I. At least, we had only be

eoff, sleepily still.

Elsa; "it's-it's much worse. Mam

tarted

to go for the

she answered sadly. "He thought her a tiny bit better when he came the la

"I won't be five minutes, Elsa. Tell ma

for that. You can't see her-you can't possibly see her before you go to school, any

, not when she's ill,

in a confused sort of way now and then all night. We quieted her at last by telling her we had given you one to go to scho

tears of remorse. But as she went on, pride and irritation got the better of him. He was too completely unused to think of or for

he sense to know how to behave when any one's ill? I tell you I just will and shall go to see her, whatever you

paler than she

ll force me to quarrel with you this morning when-when we are all so unhappy. I don't want to make you more unhappy, but I can't help speaking plainly to you. You have worried mamm

out Geoff. "Are you

Hoot-Toot. He made me promise to do so if mamma were ill. I expect him directly. It is past seven. Geoff, you had be

to school," he replied sharp

d Elsa, "you

e words she l

aid the ol