ed to be in this neighbourhood,
and came to see me."

"Your father!" exclaimed Miss Stivergill, with a look of surprise.
"Indeed!"

"Yes, ma'am," said Bones, politely taking off his hat and looking her
coolly in the face. "I 'ope it's no offence, but I came a bit out o' my
way to see 'er. She says you've bin' wery kind to her."

"Well, she says the truth. I mean to be kind to her," returned Miss
Stivergill, as sternly as before.--"Take your father to the cottage,
child, and tell them to give him a glass of beer. If you see Miss
Lillycrop, tell her I've gone to the village, and won't be back for an
hour." So saying, Miss Stivergill walked down the lane with masculine
strides, leaving Tottie pleased, and her father smiling.

"I don't want no beer, Tot," said the latter. "But you go to the
cottage and fetch me that dear little dog. I want to see it; and don't
forget the lady's message to Miss Lillycrop--but be sure you don't say
I'm waitin' for you. Don't mention me to nobody. D'ee understand?"

Poor Tottie, with a slight and undefined misgiving at her heart,
professed to understand, and went off.

In a few minutes she returned with the little dog--a lively poodle--
which at first showed violent and unmistakable objections to being
friendly with Mr Bones. But a scrap of meat, which that worthy had
brought in his pocket, and a few soothing words, soon modified the
objection.

Presently Mr Bones pulled a small muzzle from his pocket.

"D'you think, now, that Floppart would let you put it on 'er, Tot?"

Tot was sure she would, and soon had the muzzle on.

"That's right; now, hold 'er fast a moment--just a--there--!"

He sprang at and caught the dog by the throat, choked a snarling yelp in
the bud, and held it fast.

"Dear, dear, how wild it has got all of a sudden! W'y, it must be ill--
p'r'aps mad. It's well you put that muzzle on, Tot."

While he spoke Abel Bones thrust the dog into one of the capacious
pockets of his coat.

"Now, Tot," he said, somewhat sternly, "I durstn't let this dog go. It
wants a doctor very bad. You go back to the 'ouse and tell 'em a man
said so. You needn't say what man; call me a philanthropist if you
choose, an' tell 'em I'll send it back w'en it recovers. But you
needn't tell 'em anything until you're axed, you know--it might get me
into trouble, d'ee see, an' say to Miss Stivergill it wasn't your father
as took the dog, but another man."

He leaped over a low