scrambling off the first, and shouting out--

"Assault and battery! I'll make you pay for this, you young vixen!"

"I don't mind your salt and butter, nor what you call me either," cried
Nancy; and she was just slamming the door behind them, when two persons
appeared as if about to enter, one of whom exclaimed, in a voice which I
recognised as that of Dr Rolt--

"Why, my good girl, what is all this about?"

"They said that they was a-going to take Mary's and the widow's beds and
all the things away, sir, and I wouldn't let them," she answered,
panting and still grasping the hot poker.

"Verily, daughter, thou hast taken a very effectual way of preventing
them," said the other person, who I now saw to my great joy was Mr
Silas Gray. He and the doctor at once entered the house.

"Now listen to me, damsel," he continued. "Thou hast been prompted by
affectionate zeal to defend thy friends, I doubt not, but nevertheless
thou hast acted illegally, and the consequences to thyself may be
serious; however, I will say no more on the subject at present. Put
back thy weapon into the fireplace and attend on friend Rolt, who
desires to see his patients."

I saw Mr Gray and the doctor exchange smiles as Nancy, producing the
keys from her pocket, unlocked the doors. He now, observing me, said--

"Tell me, my lad, how all this happened. I thought that thou wast doing
well with thy wherry."

So while the doctor was seeing Mary and Mrs Simmons, I gave him an
exact account of all that had happened since the day he and his family
were out with Jim and me on the water. I had just finished, when the
doctor came into the room.

"I can give you a favourable account of your young sister, my lad," said
Dr Rolt. "Her patience and obedience, aided by Nancy's care, have been
much in her favour, and she will, I trust, shortly recover. As soon as
she has gained sufficient strength our friend Mr Gray wishes her to be
removed to his house, and Nancy can remain here to look after the poor
widow, whose days on earth are numbered."

"Oh, thank you, gentlemen; thank you!" I exclaimed, my heart swelling
so that I could scarcely utter the words.

"And what about yourself, my son?" asked Mr Gray.

"Oh, Jim and I will try to rub on together, and I'll try to pay the
widow's rent as I promised, if you'll speak a word, sir, to Mr Grimes
and get him not to press for payment," I answered.

"Set thy mind at rest on that point. I will satis