“If I don’t you won’t mind, father, will you?” said Jeremy, looking very fine indeed in a new light-grey overcoat.
“I know you’ll do your best, my boy,” said Mr. Cole, and kissed him.
Outside in the hall, with the others, was Uncle Percy. He motioned to him mysteriously. “I say, kid, come here.”
Jeremy followed him into the dining-room, where they were alone. Uncle Percy shut the door.
“Here’s something for you, my boy, to take back to school. Buy something you want with it and remember your uncle isn’t such a bad sort after all.”
Jeremy crimsoned up to the tips of his ears. On the red palm of his uncle’s big hand there were lying three golden sovereigns.
“No, thank you, uncle.”
“What?”
“No, thank you, uncle. I’ve got——Father gave me——I don’t want——”
“You won’t take it? You won’t——?”