Fan?' asked the puzzled doctor.

'Himself,' whispered Nuttie. 'Alas! himself!'

'Wyn was Fan,' said Alwyn. 'Fan's gone now!'

'And did the man kick poor little Fan,' repeated the doctor--'here?'

'Oh don't--don't! It hurts so. Master said he would have none of
that, and he kicked with his big boot. Oh! Fan couldn't dance one bit
after that.'

He could not tell how long ago this had been. He seemed to have lost
all reckoning of days, and probably felt as if ages had past in Funny
Frank's van, but Dr. Brownlow thought the injury could not be above two
or three days old, and probably it accounted for there having been no
more obstructions put in the way of removing the child, since he had
ceased to be of use, and the discovery of the injury might have brought
the perpetrator into trouble. Indeed, as it was, Mr. Egremont caused
the police to be written to, demanding the arrest of the man and woman
Brag, but they had already decamped, and were never traced, which was
decidedly a relief to those who dreaded all that a prosecution would
have involved.

And Dr. Brownlow became very grave over the injury. He said it was a
surgical case, and he should like to have another opinion, enjoining
that the child should be kept in bed, and as quiet as possible, till he
could bring his friend in the afternoon, which was no difficult matter,
for Alwyn seemed to have no desire for anything but rest and the sight
of his friends and his treasures, which were laid beside him to be
gently handled and stroked but not played with. Mothu and Mithter
Button were among the friends he craved for, but he showed no desire to
see Billy-boy, and it was thought best to keep that young gentleman's
rampant strength at a distance.

The chief difficulty was with his father, who declared they were all
croaking, and that the boy would be as well as ever to-morrow. He went
and sat by the cot, and talked merrily of the pony that Alwyn was to
ride, and the yachting they would have in the summer; and the little
fellow smiled and was pleased, but went to sleep in the midst. Then Mr.
Egremont went out, taking Annaple with him, because Nuttie would not go
till the doctors' visit was over, though he declared that they were
certain not to come till long after her return from the drive. He
actually went to the dealer's, and had pony after pony paraded before
the carriage, choosing a charming toy Shetland at last, subject to its
behaviour with the coac