The Doctor made a sign; the maid withdrew; and I pressed a little closer to Mercer, and pinched his arm.

"I'll take my share," I whispered quietly, as the door was opened. The Doctor and the General both rose, as there was the rustle of silk, and I uttered quite a sob as I was clasped in my mother's arms.

"My dearest boy," she cried, as she kissed me fondly, while I shrank away, for my stern-looking, military uncle came in with her.

"Why, Charley!" roared the General.

"What, Hawk!" cried my uncle boisterously, and the two old officers grasped each other's hands, and stood shaking them heartily.

"Why, my dear old man," cried the General, "this is a surprise!"

"Surprise! I should think it is," cried my uncle. "I am delighted.

Like old times, eh?"

"Hah!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the General, chuckling, and looking now transformed into a very genial old gentleman, while the Doctor stood softly stroking his shirt-frill and smiling benignantly.

"But one moment," cried my uncle. "My sister--poor old Frank Burr's wife."

"Dear, dear, bless me!" cried the General, advancing with courtly, chivalric respect to shake hands with my mother. "My dear madam," he said softly, "it is an honour. I knew your poor husband well."

As he dropped my mother's hand, she bent her head, and her veil sank down, while the General's eyes fell upon me, and the transformation was comic.

"Here," he whispered to my uncle, as I looked from one to the other, and saw the Doctor smiling blandly. "This--this boy--not--Frank Burr's--"

"Yes," said my uncle, nodding to me. "Pupil here. Send him into the service by and by."

"Bless my soul!--Oh dear me!--Here--I--that is--" stammered the General, looking from one to the other, till his eyes lit on Bob Hopley, when he flushed up angrily.

"How dare you, sir! How dare you stand there, with that rabbit and that wretched ferret! Don't you see that there are ladies present, sir.

'Tention! Put them away. Dress!"

"Here, stop," said my uncle sharply, as he looked round, "We have interrupted some business."

"No, no, no, no, my dear boy!--nothing, nothing!" cried the General.

"Mere trifle."

"Trifle, eh?" said my uncle, drawing himself up, and looking the fierce colonel of dragoons. "Frank!"

"Yes, uncle," I said shrinkingly.

"You are in some sc.r.a.pe."

"Yes, uncle."

"What have you been doing?"

"Oh, Charles, pray--pray--" cried my mother.

"Hush," he said, holding up his hand. "Now, sir, speak out."

"Really, my dear Charley--" cried the General.

"Allow me, please, sir," said my uncle; and I caught sight of the Doctor raising his hand and making a sign to my mother, as he placed a chair for her, an act of politeness needed, for she was turning faint. "Now, sir, speak out--the simple facts, please. What have you been doing?"

"Rabbiting with a ferret, uncle, us two, and this gentleman and Bob Hopley came and caught us."

"Rabbiting--poaching?"

"Yes, yes, yes," cried the General. "A mere nothing, my dear madam.

The boys were certainly on my grounds watching a poaching scoundrel, and I--yes, I thought I'd say a word to the Doctor. Bad company for him, a poacher--eh, my dear Charley?"

"Yes, rather," said my uncle dryly.

"And now," said the General, "Doctor Browne here--my neighbour--will tell them not to do so any more--eh, Doctor, eh?"

"Certainly," said the Doctor. "I'm sure it will not occur again."

"No, no, of course not," said the General. "Hopley, you can go. Stop!

that ferret belongs to the boys, I think."

"To you, Frank?" said my uncle.

"No, uncle, it's his," I said. "But I was helping to use it."

"Hah! that's better," said my uncle sharply.

"I bought the ferret," said Mercer, speaking for the first time, "but I don't want it. I'll give it to you, Bob."

"Yes, yes, very wise of you, my lad. There, go now, Hopley," said the General.

The keeper touched his forehead, and gave a look all round, then winked solemnly at Mercer and me, and left the room.

"Hah!" said the General; "then that little bit of business is settled, Doctor, eh? Just a word or two."

"A few admonitions, my dear sir," said the Doctor blandly. "And now, if you will excuse me for a while, I will retire with Mercer here."

Tom gave me a look so full of appeal, that I ran across to the Doctor.

"Don't punish him, sir!" I said imploringly. "We were both alike."

"What's that, Frank?" said my uncle.

"I asked the Doctor not to punish Tom Mercer, uncle."

"No, no, no: of course not!" cried the General; "I endorse that appeal.

Here, you sir, come to me. Gentlemen don't do such things as that; and now we all know better, I've got some capital fishing in my ponds and lakes, and I shall be happy to see you two at any time. There, shake hands."

Tom jumped at him, and it was pleasant to see how delighted he looked as he turned and shot a grateful glance at the General before the door closed on him and the Doctor.