ed
symptoms of returning consciousness.

"Send for the doctor," suggested the housemaid.

"No," said the butler, "send for a cab, and 'ave the boy sent home. I
fear that master will blame me for givin' way to my feelin's, and won't
thank me for bringin' 'im in here. You know he is rather averse to the
lower orders. Besides, the poor boy will be better attended to at 'ome,
no doubt. I dare say you'd like to go 'ome, wouldn't you?" he said,
observing that the boy was looking at him with a rather curious
expression.

"I dessay I should, if I could," he answered, with a mingled glance of
mischief and pain, "but if you'll undertake to carry me, old cock, I'll
be 'appy to go."

"I'll send you in a cab, my poor boy," returned the butler, "and git a
cabman as I'm acquainted with to take care of you."

"All right! go a'ead, ye cripples," returned the boy, as the cook
approached him with a cup of warm soup.

"Oh! ain't it prime!" he said, opening his eyes very wide indeed, and
smacking his lips. "I think I'll go in for a smashed pin every day o'
my life for a drop o' that stuff. Surely it must be wot they drinks in
'eaven! Have 'ee got much more o' the same on 'and?"

"Never mind, but you drink away while you've got the chance," replied
the amiable cook; "there's the cab coming, so you've no time to lose."

"Vell, I _am_ sorry I ain't able to 'old more, an' my pockets wont 'old
it neither, bein' the wuss for wear. Thankee, missus."

He managed, by a strong effort, to dispose of a little more soup before
the cab drew up.

"Where do you live?" asked the butler, as he placed the boy carefully in
the bottom of the cab with his unkempt head resting on a hassock, which
he gave him to understand was a parting gift from the housemaid.

"Vere do I live?" he repeated. "Vy, mostly in the streets; my last 'ome
was a sugar barrel, the one before was a donkey-cart, but I do sometimes
condescend to wisit my parents in their mansion 'ouse in Vitechapel."

"And what is your name? Sir Richard may wish to inquire for you--
perhaps."

"May he? Oh! I'm sorry I ain't got my card to leave, but you just tell
him, John--is it, or Thomas?--Ah! Thomas. I knowed it couldn't 'elp to
be one or t'other;--you just tell your master that my name is Robert,
better known as Bobby, Frog. But I've lots of aliases, if that name
don't please 'im. Good-bye, Thomas. Farewell, and if for ever, then--
you know the rest o' the quotation, if