Colonel Sturt nearly dropped the cigar-case in his consternation; Sir Everard turned hastily round; and Humphrey, snatching it up, rushed out of the room. "What is the matter?" asked Sir Everard. "_It was the birthday present!_" said little Miles, in an awe-struck whisper. Sir Everard followed Humphrey to assure him he had not seen anything; which made matters rather worse, as he found him in the act of hiding it in Virginie's band-box, under her best Sunday bonnet. With some difficulty he reassured the boy, and brought him back. "It was a near thing, though," observed Humphrey, with a sigh of relief. Colonel Sturt was now almost afraid to remark on anything else; but a shilling concealed in a tooth-glass attracted his attention. "Oh, that's my money," explained Humphrey, "that I am saving to buy old Dyson an ear-trumpet with. It was the only safe place I could find to keep it in." "How much will it cost?" asked the Colonel. "Seventeen shillings, I believe." "And how much have you got?" "Well, only that yet," answered the boy, pointing to the solitary shilling; "but then you know, I only began yesterday." Colonel Sturt asked a good many questions about old Dyson, and then took half-a-sovereign from his pocket, and dropped it into the tooth-glass. "That's my contribution," said he. Humphrey was too much excited by this unexpected munificence to make civil speeches; but his unfeigned surprise and delight were worth all the thanks in the world. He ran after his father to exhibit his treasure, and returned breathless. "Only think!" he said to Colonel Sturt, "that other gentlemen has given me six shillings; so now I can buy the trumpet directly, and I thought it would be weeks and weeks before I got it!" The children were now summoned to their tea, and told to wish the gentlemen "good-night," as they were not to come down to dinner. But Humphrey first extorted a promise from Colonel Sturt, that he would go to the ear-trumpet shop the next day, the very minute he arrived in London, and have it sent off directly. Sir Everard had nearly finished dressing that evening, when the door was thrown open, and both boys rushed into the room. "There! take it father," said Humphrey holding out the cigar-case--"that's for you. That's your birthday present--the grand secret! It's no use our trying to keep it any longer, because we _can't_!" "Are you surprised, Fardie?" asked little Miles, clapping his hands, and Humphrey eagerly repeated the question. Sir Everard could, with all truth, assure the children that he had never been so surprised in his life; for, as he did not smoke, certainly the very last present he would have expected was a cigar-case! But his pleasure and gratitude were so well feigned, that the children went to bed highly delighted with the success of their birthday present. CHAPTER VIII. "Good-bye, Humpty-Dumpty! The trumpet shall be at the station at five o'clock this afternoon without fail."