," cried the doctor energetically.

"Of course, I may be wrong," said Helen, "but Dexter strikes me as being
so sensitive a boy--so easily moved, that, I am ready to say, I am sure
that he is lying there half-heartbroken, crying bitterly, now he is
alone."

"I'll soon prove that," said the doctor sharply; and, crossing the room
in his slippers, he silently lit a candle and went upstairs to Dexter's
door, where he stood listening for a few minutes, to find that all was
perfectly still. Then turning the handle quietly, he entered, and it
was quite half an hour before he came out.

"Well, papa?" said Helen, as the doctor returned to the drawing-room.

"You're a witch, my dear," he said.

"I was right?"

"You always are, my dear."

"And you will not send him back to the Union schools!"

"Send him back!" said the doctor contemptuously.

"Nor have him apprenticed?" said Helen, with a laughing light in her
eyes.

"Have him ap--Now that's too bad, my dear," cried the doctor. "Danby
will laugh at me enough. You need not join in. Poor boy! I'm glad I
went up."

There was a pause, during which the doctor sat back in his chair.

"Do you know, my dear, I don't feel very sorry that the young dog went
off."

"Not feel sorry, papa!"

"No, my dear. It shows that the young rascal has plenty of energy and
spirit and determination."

"I hope you did not tell him so!"

"My dear child, what do you think me?" cried the doctor testily. "By
the way, though, he seems to thoroughly see through his companion's
character now. I can't help wishing that he had given that confounded
young cad a sound thrashing."

"Papa!"

"Eh? No, no: of course not," said the doctor. "I was only thinking
aloud."

Helen sat over her work a little longer, feeling happier than she had
felt since Dexter left the house; and then the lights were extinguished,
and father and daughter went up to bed.

The doctor was very quiet and thoughtful, and he stopped on the stairs.

"Helen, my dear," he whispered, "see the women-servants first thing in
the morning, and tell them I strictly forbid any allusion whatever to be
made to Dexter's foolish prank."

Helen nodded.

"I'll talk to the men myself," he said. "And whatever you do, make Mrs
Millett hold her tongue. Tut--tut--tut! Now, look at that!"

He pointed to a tumbler on a little papier-mache tray standing at
Dexter's door.

"Never mind that, dear," said Helen, smiling. "I dare sa