CHAPTER II
TOM
In the attic a child of seven years was sitting up in a cot placed by the side of his dear Aunt Annie's bed. He had an extremely intelligent, inquisitorial, and agnostical face, and a fair, curled head of hair, which he scratched with one hand as Aunt Annie entered the room and held the candle on high in order to survey him.
'Well?' inquired Aunt Annie firmly.
'Well?' said Tom Knight, determined not to commit himself, and waiting wanly for a chance, like a duellist.
'What's all this noise for? I told you I specially wanted you to go to sleep at once to-night.'
'Yes,' said Tom, staring at the counterpane and picking imaginary bits off it. 'And you might have known I shouldn't go to sleep after that!'