d there's a big bump on
one cheek."

"Is there? Then it must be so. Larkins, you'd better not stand too
near, I'm afraid I've smallpox!"

Larkins's face grew alarmed, and his jaw dropped. "What! Smallpox?
Oh, I say, Batchelor, I hope not. It looks more like as if you'd been
fighting."

"That's the smallpox coming on," I said, mournfully; "I'm sure!"

"Perhaps I'd better go," said Larkins, making for the door. "I'll tell
them at your office," and with that he bolted suddenly.

It rather pleased me to imagine the sensation which his news would
occasion not only down stairs among Mrs Nash's lodgers, but also at the
office. I could hear the sound of eager voices below, followed by what
I fancied was the hurried stampede of the company from the house. Then
presently Mrs Nash's foot sounded on the stairs, and she opened the
door.

"Have you had it, Mrs Nash?" I cried, as she appeared.

She made no answer, but walked up straight to my bed. "What's all this
nonsense about?" she demanded.

"I'm afraid it's smallpox. I'm so sorry on your account," I said, quite
meekly. "I sort of felt it coming on some days," I added, quite
convinced in my own mind it had been so.

To my astonishment, the good lady expressed neither surprise nor
sympathy. "Fiddlesticks!" said she. "Come, get up!"

"Get up?" I cried, in astonishment. "I can't possibly, Mrs Nash. I
tried just now, and couldn't stand!"

"Stuff and nonsense! You ought to be ashamed of yourself going and
fighting with a parcel of young roughs over night, and then shamming
illness in the morning because you daren't show your black eyes to the
governors! Come, you don't get round me with any of your nonsense! Up
you get, or I'll start and sweep out the room before you're dressed!"

It was in vain I protested and pleaded. I had to rise, and, dizzy and
sick as I felt, to huddle on my clothes and go down stairs, utterly
horrified at such inhuman treatment. Mrs Nash even expected, now I was
up, I should go to the office; but this I positively declared I could
not do, and was therefore permitted to make myself as comfortable as I
could in the cheerless parlour, and there wait for the further
development of my malady.

Towards mid-day I began to feel hungry, but dared not ask Mrs Nash for
anything; it would be so unlike an invalid. But I rang the bell and
implored her to send for a doctor, which she finally promised to do.

In the interval I began to f