The Adventures of a Three-Guinea Watch | Page 7

and the chain up again, an
occupation which lasted until we arrived at Gunborough Junction,
where passengers changed for Randlebury.
"Good-bye, dear," said the old lady, as Charlie proceeded to get
together his things.
"Good-bye," said he. "Would you like to know the time before I go? It's
eight past five. Good-bye."
"May I give you a kiss?" said she.
Charlie blushed, but offered his cheek hurriedly.
"And you promise to be a good friend to Tom," said she, kissing him,
"won't you?"
"All right," said the boy, jumping out on to the platform, and running to
see after his luggage.
In a moment however he returned to the window and put his head in.
"I say," said he, "what's his name--Tom what?"
"Drift," said the old lady, "Tom Drift!"
"Oh!" replied my master, "all right, good-bye;" and next minute the
train went on, and he was left standing surrounded by his luggage in

the middle of the platform, like a lighthouse in the middle of an island.
CHAPTER THREE.
HOW MY MASTER AND I REACH RANDLEBURY IN STATE,
AND OF A GREAT CALAMITY.
My master and I had nearly an hour to wait on the platform at
Gunborough before the Randlebury train came up. Part of this interval
Charlie, for fear he might forget to do it at night, devoted to winding
me up; an experiment which nearly closed my career for ever, for he
first began to turn the key the wrong way; then, when he had
discovered his mistake, he started in the other direction with a sudden
dash, and finally overwound me to such an extent that I expected every
second to hear my heart break with the strain.
Then he sat on his boxes, whistling to himself and drumming his heels
on the platform. The train came up at last, and in he jumped, finding
himself and a grave elderly gentleman in joint possession of the
carriage.
Charlie was too busy staring out of the window, whistling, and
brushing the dust off his new hat, to take much notice of his companion
until the train was fairly started; then, observing the gentleman look at
his watch, the boy at once recognised a bond of sympathy and pulled
out me.
"I wonder if I'm the same as you?" he said eagerly.
"I hope you are not," said the gentleman, "for I'm a quarter of an hour
fast."
"Are you though?" said the boy, in astonishment.
"Why don't you put it right? I would."
"It's a bad thing to put a watch back, my boy; besides, I rather like
keeping mine a little fast."

"Do you? I say, do you think my watch is a good one?" said Charlie,
thrusting me into the hands of his astonished travelling companion.
"I can't say, my boy. I know nothing about watches. It looks a nice
one."
"Yes, father gave it me. I say, are you going to Randlebury?"
"Yes."
"Do you know the school? I'm going there."
"Oh, yes; I know the school. And you are going there, are you?"
inquired the gentleman, with interest.
"Yes, I'm a new boy, you know."
"And how do you like going to school?"
"Oh, all right; only I don't know what it'll be like. Eat I say, I don't
suppose there's many of the boys my age have got watches, do you?"
The gentleman laughed. "I dare say not," he said. Charlie was silent for
a time, and then asked,--
"I say, what sort of fellow's the head master; do you know?"
"I've seen him now and then," said the gentleman.
"Is he awfully stuck-up and strict?" asked the boy anxiously.
"I really don't know," said the gentleman, biting his lips; "I hope not."
"So do I. I wish my father was the head master," said Charlie, the tears
for a moment starting to his eyes at the bare thought of such happiness.
The gentleman looked at him very kindly, and said,--
"Cheer up, my little man; perhaps it won't be so bad after all."

Charlie smiled again as he said,--
"Oh, yes, I've got to be brave, you know, because I promised father.
But I say, if you ever come to the school, ask for me--my name's
Charlie Newcome--will you? because I don't know any of the fellows;
and besides," added he, brightening at the idea, "we can see if our
watches are going the same, you know."
The gentleman promised, and soon after this the train arrived at
Randlebury. The boy bid his companion farewell, and went off as
before to look after his belongings.
As he was standing surrounded by his baggage, a man in the dress of a
coachman came up to him and said,--
"Are you the young party from London for the school?"
"Yes," replied the boy.
"It's all