come and told the doctor as the
perlice or some one was after him."

"Yes, boy, yes; I did come, but you were not there."

"Worn't I? Yes, I was," said the boy, grinning. "I see you come, and
you'd got one o' them, long-tail ulcers and a broad-brimmed hat; and the
doctor--I say, Miss, is he better?"

"Yes, yes, Bob; but pray go on."

"I am glad the guvner's better. It scared me. I thought he was a dead
'un."

The boy looked round, and gave everybody a confidential nod, including
"'Lisbeth," who was standing at the door, crying, and smiling with
satisfaction by turns.

"But you say you saw me come!" cried Mark, while Poynter stood looking
on in triumph.

"See you come? Course I did. I know'd you d'reckly, but I don't think
it was you as did it."

"No, boy, it was not I. But where were you?"

"Wheer was I? Ah! you wouldn't know, I was afraid o' the doctor
dropping onto me for being there, and I skipped into the bone box."

"What!" cried Hendon.

"I did, sir, 'strue as goodness. There's lot's o' room, and I could
just lift up the lid and peep, and that's how I see him come."

"You young rascal?" muttered Hendon; while the doctor sat quietly
smiling, as if it were something got up for his special amusement.

"Then the doctor he took you into his room, and you had some bran'-water
hot. I smelt it. And when he come and got down one o' the bottles, and
misked you up a dollop o' physic; and I heared you both a-buzzing away,
and talking about wheer you'd been. The doctor kep' coaxing of you,
like, to go to sleep, and somehow that sent me off."

"What! in that box with those--"

"Oh, yes, I don't mind them. I often nips in there when any one's
coming."

"Did you hear anything else, Bob?" said Rich excitedly, as she held the
boy's hand.

"Not till some one else come, and knocked two or three times; and I was
going to answer the door, when the doctor come and turned down the gas,
and then I lay still, and heard him putting the physic bottles away
afore he'd let 'em in; didn't you, sir?"

The doctor smiled, and shook his head.

"Why, I heared you!" said the boy reproachfully; "and then you turns up
the gas again, and I lifts the lid a bit, and sees it was two men and an
accident."

"An accident?"

"Yes, Miss, a chap as they said had been run over; and they brings him
in, and puts him on the cushion a-top o' the box I was in; and I lay
still and listens, for I says as it was a good chance to