"Our hands and brains, as Tom said," remarked Charley. "What is the
'one thing' that you mean, Hamish?"

Hamish seized Charley by the waist, lifted him up, and let him drop
again. "It is what does not concern little boys to know: and I don't
see why you should be in here with us, young sir, any more than
Annabel."

"A presentiment that this would be the ending has been upon me for some
time," broke in the gentle voice of Constance. "In my own mind I have
kept laying out plans for us all. You see, it is not as though we
should enjoy the full income that we have hitherto had."

"What's that, Constance?" asked Tom hotly. "The decision does not touch
papa's salary; and you heard him say that the costs were to be paid out
of the estate. A pretty thing it would be if any big-wigged Lord
Chancellor could take away the money that a man works hard for!"

"Hasty, as usual, Tom," she said with a smile. "You know--we all
know--that, counting fully upon this money, papa is behindhand in his
payments. They must be paid off now in the best way that may be found:
and it will take so much from his income. It will make no difference to
you, Tom; all you can do, is to try on heartily for the seniorship and
the exhibition."

"Oh, won't it make a difference to me, though!" retorted Tom. "And
suppose I don't gain it, Constance?"

"Then you will have to work all the harder, Tom, in some other walk of