mpanions--Mr Willett, or Mr Spelman, or Mr Wilson. For Hector, he
went to see him oftenest of all, he being his favourite, and sickly,
and therefore in most need of attention. But he greatly improved his
acquaintance with William Webster; and although he had now so much
to occupy him, would not be satisfied until he was able to drive the
shuttle, and work the treadles and the batten, and, in short, turn out
almost as good a bit of linen as William himself--only he wanted about
twice as much time to it.

One day, going in to see Hector, he found him in bed and very poorly.

"My shoemaking is nearly over, Mr Willie," he said. "But I don't mind
much; I'm sure to find a corner in the general business ready for me
somewhere when I'm not wanted here any more."

"Have you been drinking the water lately?" asked Willie.

"No. I was very busy last week, and hadn't time, and it was rather cold
for me to go out. But for that matter the wind blew in through door
and window so dreadfully--and it's but a clay floor, and firing is
dear--that I caught a cold, and a cold is the worst thing for me--that
is for this poor rickety body of mine. And this cold is a bad one."

Here a great fit of coughing came on, accompanied by symptoms that
Willie saw were dangerous, and he went home at once to get him some
medicine.

On the way back a thought struck him, about which, however, he would say
nothing to Hector until he should have talked to his father and mother
about it, which he did that same evening at supper.

"I'll tell you what, Hector," he said, when he went to see him the next
day--"you must come and occupy my room in the ruins. Since grannie went
home I don't want it, and it's a pity to have it lying idle. It's a deal
warmer than this, and I'll get a stove in before the winter. You won't
have to work so hard when you've got no rent to pay, and you will have
as much of the water as you like without the trouble of walking up
the hill for it. Then there's the garden for you to walk in when you
please--all on a level, and only the little stair to climb to get back
to your own room."

"But I should be such a trouble to you all, Mr Willie!"

"You'd be no trouble--we've two servants now. If you like you can give
the little one a shilling now and then, and she'll be glad enough to
make your bed, and sweep out your room; and you know Tibby has a great
regard for you, and will be very glad to do all the cooking you will
want--it's not m