“Fifteen hundred a year, eh? Well, that's pretty good—but this pair of horses can't be done on that. I hope I'm not exceeding my income; perhaps Louisa's come into money.”
He settled in his own mind that old Plappy was gathered to his fathers, leaving everything to his child.
The carriage drove past the Marble Arch, and along the road towards Bayswater. Tommy watched the progress of the carriage with much anxiety.
“I won't live in Bayswater,” said he. “If it's Bayswater I'll move to-morrow. I do wonder where I live. I suppose if I asked the groom he'd think it odd.” However, it wasn't Bayswater, for as this thought passed through his mind the carriage drove into Lancaster Gate, and stopped at No. 352.
“Whew!” said he. “Lancaster Gate, eh? Freddy, Freddy, this can't be done on £1500 a year, or anything like it. Something wrong, Freddy, I'm afraid.” And he shook his head at himself, and held up his finger in a very reproving manner.
The door was opened by a grave man in a very handsome livery, and Tommy entered the house with much misgiving.
“Anybody in?”
“Only my lady, sir,” said the man.
“Only your lady?”
“Yes, Sir Frederick. Her ladyship is up stairs.”
“Oho!” thought Freddy. “Sir Frederick, and her ladyship, eh? So I've been, knighted I suppose. Perhaps I'm a baronet. I hope I'm a baronet for Theodore's sake.”
“Any letters?”
