“In the library. He has a gentleman with him.”
“Gentleman?”
“Yes; he has come from Bristol to see your father on business.”
“Oh!” said Fred, carelessly; and he sat down and rested his head upon his hand.
“Does your head ache, my boy?” asked his mother.
“Head? No, mother. I was only thinking,” said the boy, as his mother’s words brought him back from wandering in the water-floored passage.
“Thinking of your studies?”
Fred started a little, for his studies had been rather neglected of late.
“No, mother, only of a hunt Scar and I had in the Hall woods to-day.”
It was in the boy’s heart to tell his mother all that had passed, and their discovery from beginning to end, but he argued, “If I do, it will not be a secret any longer.”