“Dear me, how fine we are! What’s in these bottles on the shelves?”
“Chemicals.”
“That your desk where you do your lessons?”
“No; that’s uncle’s bureau where he keeps his papers. We’re going to have another table, and some chemistry and astronomical books up soon. Uncle says that he shall make this an extra study.”
“Keeps his papers, eh? His will too, I suppose?”
“I don’t know,” said Tom.
“Yes, you do. None of your sham with me, I know you, Master Tom. That the way up-stairs?”
“Yes,” said Tom quietly; and they went on up the steps.
“Just as if you wouldn’t be artful enough to know all about that. Bound to say you’ve read it half-a-dozen times over.”
“I haven’t looked in uncle’s drawers, and if I had I shouldn’t have read any of his papers.”