mber, nearly on a level with the ground, presented
favourable auspices for holding a face to face colloquy with night
visitors.

"She's mortal bad, sir," was Hook's salutation.

"Who is?" asked Jan. "Alice, or the missis?"

"Not the missis, sir. The other. But I shouldn't ha' liked to trouble
you, if you hadn't ordered me."

"I won't be two minutes," said Jan.

It seemed to Hook that Jan was only one, so speedily did he come out. A
belief was popular in Deerham that Mr. Jan slept with his clothes on; no
sooner would a night summons be delivered to Jan, than Jan was out with
the summoner, ready for the start. Before he had closed the surgery
door, through which he had to pass, there came another peal, and a woman
ran up to him. Jan recognised her for the cook of a wealthy lady in the
Belvedere Road, a Mrs. Ellis.

"Law, sir! what a provident mercy that you are up and ready!" exclaimed
she. "My mistress is attacked again."

"Well, you know what to do," returned Jan. "You don't want me."

"But she do want you, sir. I have got orders not to go back without
you."

"I suppose she has been eating cucumber again," remarked Jan.

"Only a bit of it, sir. About the half of a small one, she took for her
supper. And now the spasms is on her dreadful."

"Of course they are," replied Jan. "She knows how cucumber serves her.
Well, I can't come. I'll send Mr. Cheese, if you like. But he can do no
more good than you can. Give her the drops and get the hot flannels;
that's all."

"You are going out, sir!" cried the woman, in a tone that sounded as if
she would like to be impertinent. "_You_ are come for him, I suppose?"
turning a sharp tongue upon Hook.

"Yes, I be," humbly replied Hook. "Poor Ally--"

The woman set up a scream. "You'd attend _her_, that miserable castaway,
afore you'd attend my mistress!" burst out she to Jan. "Who's Ally Hook,
by the side of folks of standing?"

"If she wants attendance, she must have it," was the composed return of
Jan. "She has got a body and a soul to be saved, as other folks have.
She is in danger; your mistress is not."

"Danger! What has that got to do with it?" angrily answered the woman.
"You'll never get paid there, sir."

"I don't expect it," returned Jan. "If you'd like Cheese, that's his
window," pointing to one in the house. "Throw a handful of gravel up,
and tell them I said he was to attend."

Jan walked off with Hook. He heard a crash of gravel behind him; so
conc