"There were three or four of them," said the gentleman in pink; "four or
five----"

"What man, dear?" the lady asked again.

"The man as said 'e knew w'ere my farver was," said Dickie, remembering
what he had been told to say; "so I went along of 'im, an' then in the
wood 'e said 'e'd give me a dressing down if I didn't get through the
winder and open the door; 'e said 'e'd left some tools 'ere and you
wouldn't let 'im 'ave them."

"You see," said the lady, "the child didn't know. He's perfectly
innocent." And she kissed Dickie's hair very softly and kindly.

Dickie did not understand then why he suddenly felt as though he were
going to choke. His head felt as though it were going to burst. His ears
grew very hot, and his hands and feet very cold.

"I know'd right enough," he said suddenly and hoarsely; "an' I needn't
a-gone if I 'adn't wanted to."

"He's feverish," said the lady, "he doesn't know what he's saying. Look
how flushed he is."

"I wanted to," said Dickie; "I thought it 'ud be a lark. And it was
too."

He expected to be shaken and put down. He wondered where his crutch was.
Mr. Beale had had it under his arm. How could he get to Gravesend
without a crutch? But he wasn't shaken or put down; instead, the lady
gathered him up in her arms and stood up, holding him.

"I shall put him to bed," she said; "you shan't ask him any more
questions to-night. There's time enough in the morning."

She carried Dickie out of the drawing-room and away from the other
people to a big room with blue walls and blue and gray curtains and
beautiful furniture. There was a high four-post bed with blue silk
curtains and more pillows than Dickie had ever seen before. The lady
washed him with sweet-smelling water in a big basin with blue and gold
flowers on it, dressed him in a lace-trimmed nightgown, which must have
been her own, for it was much too big for any little boy.

Then she put him into the soft, warm bed that was like a giant's pillow,
tucked him up and kissed him. Dickie put thin arms round her neck.

"I do like you," he said, "but I want farver."

"Where is he? No, you must tell me that in the morning. Drink up this
milk"--she had it ready in a glass that sparkled in a pattern--"and then
go sound asleep. Everything will be all right, dear."

"May Heavens," said Dickie, sleepily, "bless you, generous Bean
Factress!"

* * * * *

"A most extraordinary child," said the lady, re