Jeremy looked distressed. “She'd know if I was dead, someone would come and tell her,” he said. “But I'll tell Mother I'm sorry... But I won't tell Father,” he added.
“Why not?” asked Uncle Samuel.
“Because he'll make such a fuss. And I'm not sorry. He never told me not to.”
“No, but you knew you hadn't to.”
“I'm very good at obeying,” explained Jeremy, “if someone says something; but if someone doesn't, there isn't anyone to obey.”
Uncle Samuel shook his head. “You'll be a bit of a prig, my son, if you aren't careful,” he said.
“I think it will be splendid to be a horse-trainer,” said Jeremy. “It was a lovely horse to-night... And I only spent a shilling. I had three and threepence halfpenny.”
At the door of their house Uncle Samuel stopped and said:
“Look here, young man, they say it's time you went to school, and I don't think they're far wrong. There are things wiser heads than yours can understand, and you'd better take their word for it. In the future, if you want to go running off somewhere, you'd better content yourself with my studio and make a mess there.”
“Oh, may I?” cried Jeremy delighted.