It was a lovely place, and Tom thought so with a keen sense of pain, as, after leaving Jerrie at her gate, he walked slowly back until he reached the four pines, where he sat down to think and wonder what he should do as a poor man, with neither business nor prospects.
'I don't suppose the governor has laid up much,' he said, 'for since Uncle Arthur came home he has done very little business, and has spent what really was his own recklessly and without a thought of saving, he was so sure to have enough at last, and Uncle Arthur was so free to give us what we asked for.

But that will end when he knows he has a daughter, and as he never fancied me much, I shall either have to beg, or work, or starve, or marry a rich wife, which is not so easy for a poor dog to do.
I don't suppose that Governor's daughter would look at me now, nor anyone else who is anybody.

By George, I ought to have called on Ann Eliza before this time.

I wonder if it's too late to go there now.

I believe I'll walk round there anyway, and if I see a light, I'll go in, and if old _paterfamilias_--how I'd like to kick him--is there, I'll tell him the news, and that I know now he did not strike Jerrie with the table-leg, and perhaps I'll apologize for what I said when in the car.
Tom Tracy, you are a scoundrel, and no mistake,' he added, with energy, as he arose, and struck into the field, through which he had dragged Ann Eliza the night of the storm.
There were lights at Le Bateau, and Tom was soon shaking hands with old _paterfamilias_, who was at home, and with Ann Eliza, who was now able to come down stairs..