Jack, as pleased as I was; "and he says any time of an
evening when he's away we can use the lower room as if it was our own.
Isn't it brickish of him?"

I agreed heartily in the sentiment, and proceeded to Hawk Street with
less weight on my mind than ever.

There, as was natural, I found myself an object of a good deal of
interest and remark. Doubleday, who once during my illness had sent me
a short note of sympathy by Smith, was the first to welcome me back to
my old quarters.

"Here we are again, young 'un, alive and kicking," cried he, clapping me
on the back as I entered. "How his whiskers have grown, haven't they,
Wallop? Well, how's your game leg?"

"It was my arm, not my leg," I said.

"No! was it? I heard it was your off-leg and your spine and your skull
that were smashed. That's what made me so surprised to see you. Never
mind, I'm glad to see you, young 'un, for there's a ticklish bit of
figure work to do. None of the others would look at it, so I've saved
it up for you, my boy."

"And I'm ready for it," said I.

Crow and Wallop greeted me rather more shyly. I fancy they had had
rather a fright when they heard how very ill I had been.

They shook hands rather sheepishly, and Wallop said something about the
weather which had no actual bearing, on my recovery. I had come to the
conclusion during my illness that Crow and Wallop had not been
altogether profitable companions, and I was therefore glad they were not
more demonstrative now.

But I had yet to meet Hawkesbury, and wished the operation well over;
for however much I may once have believed in him, I now disliked him,
and determined to have as little to do with him as possible.

"Ah, Batchelor," cried he, coming up with outstretched hand, and beaming
as if the incident in my sick-room weeks ago had never happened. "So
glad to see you back. We have missed you greatly. How do you feel?
You're looking better than when I saw you last."

I just took his hand and said, "Thank you," as shortly as I could.

He appeared neither to notice my manner nor my tone.

"You've had a long spell of it," said he. "I'd no idea a broken arm was
such a serious thing. But I dare say you'll be all the better for your
long rest."

I set to work to open my desk and get together my papers and pens, ready
for work.

"It was a bad fall you had," continued he, standing beside me as I was
thus employed. "You have no idea how distressed I was when it happ