, sir," answered Becky, "and it's done me a deal of good;
but might I give this bit to the kitten? She didn't have much dinner
more than me to-day."

"To be sure," said the doctor, and he watched with serious interest
while Becky prepared a little meal for her pet, and put the plate on the
floor. "So _you've_ got a cat, have you," he continued, bending down to
examine the grey kitten. "Little Miss Chester offered me a cat the
other day."

"That's Master Dennis Chester's sister, ain't it?" asked Becky with
sudden interest. "Do you know him too?"

The doctor nodded. "I see them about often," he said. "Nice little
girl, and nice little boy."

Becky gave a solemn shake of the head.

"He's more than nice," she said; "he's just splendid. Do you know what
he did for father?"

Mr Price did not know; and Becky, strengthened and refreshed by her
dinner, sat up eagerly on her sofa and told him the whole story, to
which he listened very gravely.

"Well, that's a very good job," he said, as she ended. "We must hope Mr
Tuvvy will be able to keep straight. But there's lots of public-houses
in Upwell, you know, as well as the Cross Keys at Fieldside, to tempt a
man."

"They don't matter near so much," said Becky. "Father don't as a rule
want to go out again after he's once home. Not unless," she added, with
a little sigh, "it's washing day."

Dr Price gave a slow smile, took out his watch, and jumped to his feet
with a suddenness that made Becky start.

"I ought to be seven miles off by this," he said, striding to the door.
"Good-bye, Becky."

He seemed to Becky to make one spring from the door to his horse's back,
and to gallop furiously up the street the next minute. There were one
or two sharp, shrill shrieks from Snip and Snap as they tore after him,
and then all was silent.

Dr Price's visits often ended in this abrupt way, but Becky wished he
could have stayed a little longer this afternoon, for she was just going
to ask him to take a message for her to Master Dennis, and say how very
grateful she and Dan felt. However, as that could not be, she comforted
herself by making up her mind to ask him next time he came, and settled
cosily down to wait for Dan's arrival, when she could tell him all that
had passed.

CHAPTER NINE.

PHILIPPA'S VISIT.

"There is no doubt," said Mrs Trevor, "that the air of Fieldside suits
dear Philippa; it seems to sooth her nerves."

"I think it does," answered Miss