Sandford and Merton. 45
When they got back to Mr. Barlow’s they found Mr.

Merton’s groom at the gate to take Tom home for a few
days. Mr. and Mrs. Merton threw their arms round his
neck with joy to see their dear boy once more. But Tom
did not say a word of the sum he gave to Ned Stiles.

CHAPTER V.

THE next day they all three went to church, but they
found that all eyes were cast on Tom. Mr. and Mrs.
Merton knew not what to make of this, but would not ask
what it meant till they had left the church. Then Mr.
Merton-said to Tom: .

“What did all the folk stare at you for, my boy? What
did it all mean ?”

Tom had no time to tell him, for just then poor Ann
Stiles ran up to him, fell down at his feet, and said he had,
“through the grace of God, set them all free. Yes, dear
child, I, my good man, and our babes all owe our lives to
you.”

All that Mr. and Mrs. Merton could do was to stand and
gaze at what went on; but when they found that Tom’s
oift was the cause of it all, they threw their arms round
the young boy’s neck and wept.

Their hearts were too full for them to think of the crowd
that stood round, till at last they went to their coach to
hide the tears of joy which ran down their cheeks.

No one saw Tom fret at Mr. Barlow’s, for since he had
had Hal to dove, his thoughts had been so much drawn off
trom self that it made a new life of it.