dn't be, sir. You look in his eyes and see."

This to the Doctor, who coughed again.

"My good woman, I must insist upon you leaving the room."

"A moment, Doctor," cried my uncle eagerly; "this person seems to know
something. Stop!"

"I wasn't a-going, sir," said Cook sharply, "not till I've spoke out
what I've come to say."

"Then, for goodness' sake, speak, woman, and go," cried the Doctor
angrily. "We are engaged."

"Which well I know it, sir, and I'm going to speak," said Cook, with
dignity; "and if I'd known before Polly 'Opley--your keeper's wife's
daughter, Sir Orkus," she continued, turning to the General.

"Oh yes, yes, yes, I knew Polly when she was a baby," said the old
gentleman, nodding at the girl, who courtesied to him; "but if you know
anything about this--this terrible affair, speak out."

"Which I will, sir, and if I lose my place, and you do happen to want a
good plain--"

"Cook, Cook, pray speak out," cried Mrs Doctor.

"Which I'm trying to, ma'am, only you all flurry me so. You see I
knowed as Master Burr was shut up, something about some trouble or
scrape--as boys will be boys, and always was, but being busy in my
kidgen, and plenty to do, and the young gentlemen all forbid to say what
it was about, so as I never knowed till this morning, when Polly 'Opley
comes and tells me all about it, as Mr Lomax goes and tells her
father--your keeper, sir--and Polly only this morning, and she never
knowed it before, and then came on and told me something as'll make you
all ashamed of treating a poor boy like that."

"Yes, yes, yes," said my uncle impatiently; "but do you know anything
about the watch?"

"Which I'm telling you, sir," cried Cook, "though not a word did I know
till Polly 'Opley comes just now, when I see it all as plain as
pie-crust, and I says to her, `Polly,' I says, `they're all in the
libery now, and you shall come and tell 'em the whole truth.'"

"Then you know, Polly, my child?" said the General eagerly.

"Yes, Sir Orkus, please, Sir Orkus," said Polly, blushing.

"Then, then, tell us all at once, there's a good girl."

"Yes, Sir Orkus. Not as I ever encouraged him a bit to come to our
cottage."

"Humph!" said the Doctor; "you always bait your trap with sweets to get
the boys to come, girl."

"Please, sir, I didn't mean the young gentlemen, I meant Dick Magglin."

"Eh, what?" cried the General.

"Please, Sir Orkus, if I've ordered him away once, I've done it f