Hearing that the police were in pursuit of him, he had fancied it was on account of the harm done by his negligence.  ’I hid about for a day,’ he said:  ’somehow I felt as if I could not go far off, till I heard how you were, my Lord, and I’d made up my mind that as soon as ever I heard the first stroke of the bell, I’d go and find the police, and his Lordship might hang me, and glad!’

Louis was nearer a tear than a smile.

’Then Mr. Frost finds me, and was mad at me.  Nothing wasn’t bad enough for me, and he sets Mr. Warren to see me off, so I had nothing for it but to cut.’

‘What did you think of doing?’ sighed Louis.

’I made for the sea.  If I could have got to them places in the Indies, such as that Philip went to, as you reads about in the verse-book—­he as killed his wife and lost his son, and made friends with that there big rascal, and had the chest of gold—­’

‘Philip Mortham!  Were you going in search of buccaneers?’

’I don’t know, my Lord.  Once you told me of some English Sir, as kills the pirates, and is some sort of a king.  I thought, may be, now you’d tell me where they goes to dig for gold.’

‘Oh, Tom, Tom, what a mess I have made of your notions!’

‘Isn’t there no such place?’

‘It’s a bad business, and what can you want of it?’

’I want to get shut of them as orders one about here and there, with never a civil word.  Besides,’ looking down, ’there’s one I’d like to see live like a lady.’

‘Would that make her happier?’

’I’ll never see her put about, and slave and drudge, as poor mother did!’ exclaimed Tom.

‘That’s a better spirit than the mere dislike to a master,’ said Louis.  ‘What is life but obedience?’

’I’d obey fast enough, if folk would only speak like you do—­not drive one about like a dog, when one knows one is every bit as good as they.’

‘I’m sure I never knew that!’

Tom stared broadly.

‘I never saw the person who was not my superior,’ repeated Louis, quietly, and in full earnest.  ’Not that this would make rough words pleasanter, I suppose.  The only cure I could ever see for the ills of the world is, that each should heartily respect his neighbour.’

Paradoxes musingly uttered, and flying over his head, wore to Tom a natural and comfortable atmosphere; and the conversation proceeded.  Louis found that geography had been as much at fault as chronology, and that the runaway had found himself not at the sea, but at Illershall, where he had applied for work, and had taken a great fancy to Mr. Dobbs, but had been rejected for want of a character, since the good superintendent made it his rule to keep up a high standard among his men.  Wandering had succeeded, in which, moneyless, forlorn, and unable to find employment, he had been obliged to part with portions of his clothing to procure food; his strength began to give way, and he had been found by the police sleeping under a hedge; he was questioned, and sent home, crestfallen, sullen, and miserable, unwilling to stay at Marksedge, yet not knowing where to go.