"By the way, shall you be using your watch to-morrow?"
"Well, I promised I'd take it, to see how the time went; but I dare say
we could do without it, and I would like to lend it to you, Halliday."
"Not a bit of it," replied the other. "I can do without it as well as
you. I am going to walk over to Whitstone Woods and back."
"Hullo, that's a long trot," said Charlie. "It must be nearly thirty
miles."
"Something like that," said Joe. "Walcot and I are going to make a day
of it."
"Which way do you go?"
"Through Gurley, and then over Rushton Common and past Slingcomb."
"Never! I wish I could do thirty miles at a stretch."
"So you will some day. Good-night."
And Charlie went to bed, to dream of the lance-wood top of his rod and
the trout in the Sharle.
In the meanwhile the conspirators had had another meeting in Drift's
den.
"Well, have you hooked him?" asked Gus.
"Yes; it's all right. He took it all in like a lamb."
"And all the school," said Margetson, "is talking of the great
reconciliation, and the gratification which that event will undoubtedly
afford to your venerable mother."
"Shut up, will you, Margetson? I've had quite enough of that chaff."
"But I do assure you, Tom--"
"That'll do," said Tom, snappishly; and Margetson did not go the length
of saying what it was he was so ready to assure him of.
"Well," said Gus, "we'll meet you and the young cub at the cross roads
by Sharle Bridge. The races don't begin till twelve, so we shall have
lots of time. I mean to see if we can't get a trap at Gurley, and do
the thing in style. What do you say? We could get one for about ten
bob."
"All serene," said Margetson. "I'll fork out my share."
"You'll pay for me, Tom," said Shadbolt, "won't you?"
"I'll see," said Tom.
"All right, that's settled; and you are seeing about grub, Tom, aren't
you? Don't forget the etceteras. What time have you told young mooney-
face?"
"Nine. He's sure to be in time."
"Well, we'll start a little before, you know, and meet you quite by
accident, and the young beggar won't smell a rat till we are safe in
Gurley."
"And if he turns cantankerous?"
"Then we can put Shaddy to look after him."
"Who's going to win the Gulley Plate, Gus?"
And then the party fell to canvassing the entries for the morrow's
races, and making their bets, in which, of course, Tom stood almost
bound to lose, whichever horse won.
Long ere they had parted company Charlie was sound asleep and dreaming,
with me under his pillow.