The boy and his uncle began the evening with a great deal of suspicion and mutual aversion.

But it wore off as the hours passed.
Mr Halgrove had a fund of stories to tell, and the boy was a good listener; and when at last they adjourned to bed they were on friendly terms.
Percy, however, took the precaution to take away the front-door key, so that the visitor could not abscond from the house during the night without his knowledge.

The precaution was unnecessary.

Mr Halgrove rang his bell for shaving water at ten next morning with the confidence of one who had lived in the house all his life.

A few hours later the travellers arrived in London..