Great Uncle Hoot-Toot

ppy-all the more so because he was furiously angry with E

splashing in his bath; and as he rushed downstairs a quarter of an hour or so after Elsa had left him, he w

ve been up all night, and they are likely to want all their strength. Go down to the school-room and ge

at-Uncle Hoot-Toot's face which made him fee

in his voice as he could; and as Mr. Byrne turned

s illness had upset the whole household. The fire was only just lighted; the preparations for Geoff's breakfast were only half ready. It

e say they have exaggerated her illness-they will have the pleasure of saying it's because I'm gone. There's only Vic who'll really care. But she won't mind so very much, either. I'll write to her now and then. I must think how best to do about going away. I hate the sea; there's no use thinking of that. I don't mind what I

giving them all some day when he should have, in some mysterious way, become a landed proprietor, riding about his fields, and of inviting them all down into the country to visit him, floated before his brain. He a

n, with a pang of disappointment. "Am I mist

. "You are early this morning. You need

prevent me seeing my mother, sir

oked at him

it," he said. "The doc

, it does not much matter. Mother and the o

eman looked a

ing of running

secret sort of way; but I've made up my mind to go. And now that

One thing which has helped to make your poor mother ill has been anxiety about money matters. I had not wished her to know of i

asked Geoffrey. "Have

Byrne, "I think

ave been told this

er wished to save you as long as she could. And you have not borne small annoy

said n

your mother and sister

owed to work for my moth

hat directly. You must go on with your education. I have found a school in the country where you will be well taught, an

y for my schoolin

plied M

thank you, but I don't want you to pay schooling or anything else for me. I shall manage for myself. It is much best f

e looked

mother could stop your

eplied the boy, "if she is so i

n. "I will send my servant to you at

" said Geof

the room, and Geof

f the state of his mother's money matters. He hardly indeed believed it, so

a and Frances, and that horrid old Hoot-Toot. But as f

ith some of his companions, whe

dy is better-doctor say so;" and with a kind of salaam

eoff, curtly; and t

od still a moment speaking to another man,

ir. You see plain when I speak to him,

man nodded

no fear. Tell your master

e "darkey," of course. At another time he would rather have enjoyed

udor's in!" said one o

ard it, and

ere either, it seems,

air of a servant out of livery, or something of that kind, followed him all the way, only turning back w

id. "Mamma's better. Aren't you glad? The doctor's been agai

her?" said Ge

swer would vex Geoff, and yet sh

e in for a moment. She has to be kept very, very quiet

now what that means-I'm not to be allowed to see her fo

mother was better, but the relief only showed

x mamma, and I'm sure you'll never do it again, when she gets better, will you? Would you like me just to run and tell Elsa and Great-Uncle Hoot-Toot how dreadfully you'd like t

ng. And I'm not sure that I do want dreadfully

re full of tear

she could say. "Mam

s softened

. "I do believe you care for me, anywa

ropped into Geoff's teacup. They were in the school

le house of our own, Vicky, in the country, you know; we'll have cocks and

ng with delight at the tempting prospect;

oing to say cream, when you interrup

Vicky repeated.

l for cream, if some are for milk. I'll find out all about it when--" But he stopped short. "Never mind, Vicky.

d Francie too, Geoff; I wouldn't care

Elsa and Frances will be married, and have hou

time. He was almost forgetting about his plan of running away. B

now, quick, before Geoff comes home, or else he will begin about it again

face g

t appealingly. But Elsa

frey quite ma