58 Tom Seven Years Old.

 

expect they meet round the chimney. Tom,”
he whispered, “I mean to get up in the
middle of the night, and come upstairs, and
send them away. Will you come with me?”

“Yes,” whispered Tom; “I will.”

“To-night,” said Bob. “ You promise?
It wouldn’t do to change your mind at the
last, you know. And we must take our boots
off, that nobody may hear. I’ve got a candle;
I begged Ann to give it me; but we mustn’t
light it till we get into the room. In the
middle of the night—you promise ?”

“ But if I don’t wake ?” said Tom.

“ Never mind,” he answered ; “I’ll manage
that. At the right hour I’ll go to your door,
and knock three times softly. Then you
must get out of bed and come outside, and
youll find me there. You mustn’t keep me
Waiting, or say a word—not even in a whisper
—or theyll hear, you know. You promise ?”

“T promise,” said Tom, solemnly.

“Fancy, said Bob, aloud, “what a thing
it would be if we were really to send them
away! It would be a public service. The