Mr. St. Clare hated being made to do things when he didn't want to.
However, after teasing his cousin a little more, he wrote out the paper,
and Topsy belonged to Miss Ophelia. That evening Mr. St. Clare went out
for a ride.

Tom saw him go, and asked if he should come too. 'No, my boy,' said Mr.
St. Clare, 'I shall be back in an hour.'

Tom sat down on the verandah to wait till his master came home. While he
waited, he fell asleep.

Presently he was awakened by loud knocking, and the sound of voices at
the gate.

He ran to open it.

Several men were there carrying a load. It was Mr. St. Clare. He had
been hurt in an accident, and was dying.

Very gently they laid him on a sofa. Nothing could be done. In a short
time he had gone to join his little Eva.




CHAPTER XVII


UNCLE TOM'S NEW MASTER