could only say, "God bless you for it." It seemed like an angel's
gift in his hour of direst need, and with a heart full of comfort he
hastened back to the lodgings, calling on his way at a cookshop and
spending sixpence of his treasure on some bread and meat for his
patient.

He was horror-struck to notice the change even a few hours had wrought
on the sufferer. There was no mistaking his ailment now. Though not
delirious, he was in a high state of fever, and apparently of pain, for
he tossed incessantly and moaned to himself.

The sight of Reginald revived him.

"I knowed you was comin'," said he; "but I don't want nothing to eat,
gov'nor. On'y some water; I do want some water."

Reginald flew to get it, and the boy swallowed it with avidity. Then,
somewhat revived, he lay back and said, "I 'ave got 'em, then?"

"Yes, I'm afraid it's smallpox," said Reginald; "but you'll soon be
better."

"Maybe I will, maybe I won't. Say, gov'nor, you don't ought to stop
here; you'll be cotchin' 'em too!"

"No fear of that," said Reginald, "I've been vaccinated. Besides, who'd
look after you?"

"My! you're a good 'un to me!" said the boy. "Think of that there
Medlock--"

"Don't let's think of anything so unpleasant," said Reginald, seeing
that even this short talk had excited his patient unduly. "Let me see
if I can make the bed more comfortable, and then, if you like, I can
read to you. How would you like that?"

The boy beamed his gratitude, and Reginald, after doing his best to
smooth the wretched bed and make him comfortable, produced the
_Pilgrim's Progress_ and settled down to read.

"That there _Robinson_ ain't a bad 'un," said Love, before the reading
began; "I read 'im while I was a-waitin' for you. But 'e ain't so good
as the Christian. Read about that there pallis ag'in, gov'nor."

And Reginald read it--more than once.

The evening closed in, the room grew dark, and he shut the book. The
boy was already asleep, tossing and moaning to himself, sometimes
seeming to wake for a moment, but dropping off again before he could
tell what he wanted or what was wrong with him.

Once or twice Reginald moistened his parched mouth with water, but as
the evening wore on the boy became so much worse that he felt, at all
hazards, he must seek help.

"I _must_ bring a doctor to see him," said he to the landlady; "he's so
ill."

"You'll bring no doctor--unless you want to see the boy chucked out in
the roa