He commenced a halting form of thanks, but she checked him and waved him away, explaining that she had business to attend to, and smilingly adding that she couldn't be bothered with him. But the business proved to be of short duration. The proud old woman soon came bustling up to the boy's sitting room in search of him, and suggested a drive. The carriage was ordered, and they selected as their route, at Miss Carlaw's command, the most public and fashionable ways. "We shall be away from London for a long time," said Miss Carlaw soon after they had started, "and London won't have a chance of seeing my boy. So we'll give 'em a chance now; we'll let 'em see that the Prince Charming they knew has grown a man indeed. Do they look at you? Do they stare? Lord! it's at this time I want my eyes most; I never felt the want of 'em until you came. But I mustn't grumble; I shall have a judgment on me if I grumble after all my blessings." Jealousy and envy racked her foolish old heart as much as they had ever done. Amid all her joy at his return, she fell very often into a despondent mood; strove, in a strange, pitiful fashion that was almost grotesque, to make herself pleasing to the boy; was anxious to be seen about with him, and yet fearful lest she should weary him, or he should long for some other companion. The joy that his presence meant to her was sometimes more than swallowed up by her jealous fears concerning him. Had she but known, no such fear need ever have troubled her life, for Comethup had a genuine and deep affection for her, born of his gratitude for her many generosities, and, in greater measure, of his respect for her strength and force of character. But it was, of course, impossible for him adequately to express that, and so her fears never really left her. With that promptitude which marked all her actions when her mind was once firmly made up, Miss Carlaw arranged to close her house and to depart for the Continent in less than a week. It was a busy week, for clothing had to be bought, and arrangements made as to their route, and many other things settled to which only Miss Carlaw could attend. Comethup went about with his aunt a great deal, but was often left to his own devices; and on one of those occasions he made up his mind that he would go down to the bank and cash the cheque which his aunt had given him. The matter had completely slipped his memory before, for there was little need for him to spend money, and he still had some in his pockets. He had been with his aunt to the bank once or twice in earlier years, and remembered well where it was situated. At the sudden recollection of the large amount of money he was soon to have in actual cash in his pocket, he hailed a hansom, immediately after leaving his aunt's house, and prepared to drive down in state. It seemed much better fun to the boy's mind to be able to take a cab, and pay for it, than to order the carriage, as he could have done at any time.