I can do, not to think her still
dead."

"She can talk, I suppose--recollects things? Things when you were kids?"

"God 'a' mercy, yes, doctor! Why--hasn't she told me how she drew my
tooth, with a bit of silk and a candle, and knew which drawer-knob it
was, and the days she saw her husband first, a-horseback?... Oh,
merciful Heavens, how had he the heart?"

"Some chaps have the Devil in 'em, and that's the truth!"

"That's what she says. She just made my flesh creep, a-telling how the
devils come out of the black savages, to seize on Christians!"

But the doctor was not prepared to be taken at his word, in this way.
Devils are good toys for speech, but they are not to be real. "Lot of
rum superstitions in those parts!" said he. "Now look you here, ma'am!
When I come back, I shall expect to hear that you and your daughter....
Oh ah!--she's not your daughter! What the deuce is she?"

"Ruth has always been my niece, but we have gone near to forget it,
times and again. 'Tis so many a long year!"

"Well--I shall expect to hear that you and your niece have had a
substantial breakfast. You understand--_substantial!_ And you must make
_her_ take milk, or gruel. You'll find she won't eat."

"Beef-tea?"

"No--at least, have some ready, in case. But her temperature is too
high. Especially at her time of life!" The doctor walked briskly away.
He had not had the gig out, for such a short distance.

CHAPTER XXI

CHRISTMAS AND THE GREEK KALENDS. O NOBIS PRAETERITOS! THE
WRITING-TABLE BACK. AN INFLEXIBLE GOVERNOR. HOW MR. JERRY DID NOT
GO TO THE WORKHOUSE. BUT HOW CAME M'RIAR TO BE SO SHORT? THE
EMPEROR OF RUSSIA. UNCLE MO'S COLDBATH FIELDS FRIEND, AND HIS
ALLOWANCE. UNCLE MO ON KEEPING ONE'S WORD. AND KEEPING ITS MEANING.
JERRY'S CONSCIENTIOUS TREACHERY, AND HIS INTERVIEW WITH MR. ROWE.
HOW M'RIAR HAD PROMISED LOVE, HONOUR, AND OBEDIENCE TO A THING A
DEVIL HAD TAKEN A LONG LEASE OF. HOW SHE SENT A NOTE TO IT, BY
MICHAEL RAGSTROAR. WHO REALISED THREE-HALFPENCE. HOW MISS HAWKINS,
JEALOUSY MAD, TINKERED AUNT M'RIAR'S NOTE. EVE'S CIVILITY TO THE
SERPENT. MUCH ABOUT NORFOLK ISLAND. DAVERILL'S SECOND VISIT TO
ENGLAND, AND ITS CAUSES

Sapps Court was looking forward to Christmas with mixed feelings,
considered as a Court. The feelings of each resident were in some cases
quite defined or definable; as for instance Dave's and Dolly's. The
children had required