hristie raised himself on his elbow, and
looked at him. Yes, he _did_ look very wasted and ill. Oh, how he hoped
Treffy would not go away, as his mother had done, and leave him behind!

And Christie cried himself to sleep that night.

The next day he watched about on the stairs till the landlady's doctor
came. Old Treffy thought him very idle because he would not go out with
the organ; but Christie put him off with first one excuse and then
another, and kept looking out of the window and down the court, that he
might see the doctor's carriage stop at the entrance.

When at last the doctor came, Christie watched him go into the
landlady's room and sat at the door till he came out. He shut the door
quickly after him, and was running down the steps, when he heard an
eager voice calling after him.

"Please, sir, please, sir," said Christie.

"Well, my boy, what do you want?" said the doctor.

"Please, sir--don't be cross, sir, but if you _would_ walk upstairs a
minute into the attic, sir; it's old Treffy, and he's ever so poorly."

"Who _is_ old Treffy?" asked the doctor.

"He's my old master; that's to say, he takes care of me,--at least it's
me that takes care of him, please, sir."

The doctor did not quite know what to make of this lucid explanation.
However, he turned round and began slowly to ascend the attic stairs.

"What's the matter with him?" he asked kindly.

"That's what I want to know, sir," said Christie; "he's a very old man,
sir, and I'm afraid he won't live long, and I want to know, please. But
I'd better go in first, please, sir; Master Treffy doesn't know you're
coming."

"Master Treffy," said Christie, walking bravely into the room, "here's
the landlady's doctor come to see you."

And to Christie's great joy, old Treffy made no objection, but submitted
very patiently and gently to the doctor's investigation, without even
asking who had sent him. And then the doctor took leave, promising to
send some medicine in the morning, and walked out into the close court.
He was just getting into his carriage, when he felt a little cold hand
on his arm.

"Please, sir, how much is it?" said Christie's voice.

"How much is what?" asked the doctor.

"How much is it for coming to see poor old Treffy, sir? I've got a few
coppers here, sir," said Christie, bringing them out of his pocket;
"will these be enough, sir? or, if not, sir, I'll bring some more to
your house to-morrow."

"Oh," said the doctor