Great Uncle Hoot-Toot

good. He would not for worlds have done anything that he distinctly saw to be wrong. He worked well at his lessons

f all their games and amusements, and he was thought well of by the masters for his steadiness and perseverance, though

st began to see signs of trouble with her boy. And gradually her anxiety led her into the fatal mistake of spoiling Geoffrey by making him of too much consequence. It came to be recognized in the household that his moods and humours were to be a sort of family barometer, and that all efforts were to be directed towards the avoidance of storms. Not that Geoff was passionate or violent. Had he been so, things would have so

to the drawing-room. But, alas! it was nothing new to see

pleasantly. "How have yo

en catching sight of Elsa's reproachful face, he seemed to put some constra

ight, mamma?" he said. "

sympathized about, and smoothed down by her patient hand. Such talks were not without their effect on the boy; much that his mother said appealed to his good sense and good feeling, though he but seldom gave her the

ply to his questions. It cheered her to see

you, Geoff. Have you anyth

mother, darting an indignant glance at his sisters as he did so. "Humbugging me as usual about mamma-any

or, resignedly, leani

I just can't do with what I've got. I've waited to speak about it till I had t

-surely not?" int

and cricket-shoes, and that sort of thing. The girls"-with cutting emphasis-"are always hinting that I ask you for too many things,

d his mother, "that su

s exactly about age," said

older than you, and I've only just begun to have an allowance for my clothes, a

all sorts of rubbishing ribbons and crinolines and

lsa, in her peculiarly clear, rather aggravating tones. "You were comp

lowered

ake Elsa and Frances understand that when

t directly respon

"what has put all this into your he

nces, have an annoying trick of refusing to answer

ll boots, instead of just an old common pair with ribs stuck on, you know,

are not

want a pair of boxing-gloves dreadfully," he went on energetically

oves? How have you managed hither

icer to have them of one's own. It's horrid always to seem

your schoolfellows are richer than you"-said Elsa

oy--" he added, turning to his sister threateningly. "I don't want to sham about anything; bu

s it another of her "mistakes"-of which, like all candid people, she felt

reason for settling in London seven years ago, that I might be able to send you to one of the best schools. We could hav

want to spend money, or that I've extravagant ideas; but it's too hard to be in a false position, as I am at school-not able to have things like the other fellows. You would ha

peak. She looked sad

or she felt as if she could gladly shake him, "you must see that mamma is very tir

ned to what you have said; it is not likely I

oked rathe

said, as he stooped to kiss his m

or a moment after h

aid Mrs. Tudor, at last. "It has been one of the many mistak

movement o

ys. I don't mean that he tells stories; but it's just his incessant grumbling. He makes himself believe all sorts of nonsense. He

e. He picks out the things boys here and there may have as an exceptio

ful, but would it not be better to avoid saying things which make him think himself of s

ways in hopes of making him ashamed, by

to-night; he'd have liked to say something more if he hadn't

him," said Elsa; "that's the trut

very likely to get them," said Mrs

Elsa exclaimed. "Why don't you tell Geoff about them, mamma? It's in a way hardly fa

ract his mind from his lessons, and I wish to be quite sure fi

eks since Mr. Norris first wrote that he was

waiting that is so trying. I can do nothin

n a sort of autocrat and benefactor in one, to the family. His opinions, his advice had been asked on all matters of importance; his appro

k Geoff would be much the better for a visit from him,"

suppose the truth is that very f

e influenced by a woman's gentleness than by a man's severity. It is just that, that

how not awakened. Mamma," she went on, "supposing our great-uncle did come home,

ather told me he had had the trick nearly all his life of saying

y he must have been!" exclai