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troops was mingled with the hammering of the large tea-tray, the ringing of the dinner-bell, and the beating of the gong, you may fancy what the noise was. In the midst of it there was a hideous crash, accompanied by screams of alarm that were too genuine to be mistaken. I rushed up, and found the furniture lying scattered over the room, with darling Dolly in the midst, the others standing in solemn silence around, and Robin Slidder sitting on the ground ruefully rubbing his head. "The truth was that the particular chair had been pulled away before the proper time, and the castle had come down in ruins while the ogre and princess were still on the top of it. Fortunately Robin saved Dolly, at the expense of his own head and shoulder, by throwing his arms round her and falling undermost; but it was a narrow escape, and you really must put a stop to such reckless ongoings." The doctor promised to do so. "I have to send Robin a message this forenoon, and will administer a rebuke before sending him," he said; but it was plain, from the smile on the doctor's face, that the rebuke would not be severe. "Robin," he said, with much solemnity, when the culprit stood before him, "take this bottle of medicine to Mr Williams; you know--the old place--and say I want to know how he is, and that I will call to-morrow afternoon." "Yes, sir," said the boy, taking the bottle with an unusually subdued air. "And Robin--stop," continued the doctor. "I am told that the children were visited by an ogre last night." "Yes, sir," answered the boy, with an uncertain glance at his questioner's grave face. "Well, Robin, you know where that ogre lives. Just call and tell him from me that if he or any of his relations ever come here again I'll cause them to undergo extraction of the spinal marrow, d'you understand?" At first little Slidder felt inclined to laugh, but the doctor's face was so unusually stern that he thought better of it, and went away much impressed. Now Robin Slidder was no loiterer on his errands, nevertheless he did not deem it a breach of fidelity to cast an occasional glance into a picture-shop window, or to pause a few seconds now and then to chaff a facetious cabby, or make a politely sarcastic remark to a bobby. His connection with what he termed "'igh life" had softened him down considerably, and given a certain degree of polish to his wit, but it had in no degree repressed his exuberant spirits.
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