well----" But Geoff heard no
more. And he was too worn-out and sleepy to think much of what he had
heard.

He got out what he required for the night. He wondered shiveringly how
it would be possible to wash with only a basin. Water he was evidently
expected to fetch for himself. He tried to say his prayers, but fell
asleep, the tears running down his face, in the middle, and woke up with
a sob, and at last managed somehow to tumble into bed. It was very cold,
but, as Mrs. Eames had said, quite dry. The chilly feeling woke him
again, and he tried once more to say his prayers, and this time with
better success. He was able to add a special petition that "mother"
might soon be well again, and that dear Vicky might be happy. And then
he fell asleep--so soundly, so heavily, that when a drumming at the door
made itself heard, he fancied he had only just begun the night. He sat
up. Where was he? At first, in the darkness, he thought he was in his
own bed at home, and he wondered who was knocking so roughly--wondered
still more at the rude voice which was shouting out--

"Up with you there, Jim, d'ye hear? I'm not a-going to stand here all
day. It's past half-past four. Jim--you lazy lout. I'll call master if
you don't speak--a-locking of his door like a fine gentleman!"

Gradually Geoff remembered all--the feeling of the things about him--the
coarse bed-clothes, the slightly mildewy smell of the pillow, helped to
recall him to the present, even before he could see.

[Illustration: KNOCKING SO ROUGHLY.]

"I'm coming, Matthew!" he shouted back. "I'll be ready in five minutes;"
and out of bed he crept, sleepy and confused, into the chilly air of the
little room. He had no matches, but there was a short curtain before the
window, and when he pulled it back the moonlight came faintly in--enough
for him to distinguish the few objects in the room. He dared not attempt
to wash, he was so afraid of being late. He managed to get out his oldest
pair of trousers, and hurried on his clothes as fast as he could, feeling
miserably dirty and slovenly, and thinking to himself he would never
again be hard on poor people for not being clean! "I must try to wash
when I come back," he said to himself. Then he hurried out, and none too
soon.

[Illustration: GEOFF AT THE STATION.]

Matthew was in the yard, delighted to frighten him. "You'll have to look
sharp," he said, as Geoff hurried to the stable. "Betsy's filling the
cans, and rare and