James Roche hotly. "And pray why shouldn't I
have listened?"

"Because--because--"

"Because--because! Well, go on, sir."

"Well, Dr Robertson said something to us boys one day about what he
called eavesdropping."

"Tut, tut, sir!" cried the boy's father irascibly. "You dare to tell me
I was eavesdropping, when you three come in from your walk, and plump
yourselves down at the end of the room and go on talking till you wake
me up? How could I help being interested and sitting back listening to
the doctor's travels? Don't I pay him to teach you boys a lot of his
knowledge, and if by accident I hear some of what he says, haven't I a
right to it?"

"And you have heard all I have said, sir?" said the doctor, speaking as
if he were moved.

"Yes, my dear sir, everything when once I was well awake, and very fine
it was. Why, Mark--Dean--didn't I suggest that I should like to hear
some more?"

"Yes, uncle, you did," said Dean; "but--"

"What, sir? Are you siding with Mark, and going to accuse your uncle of
being an eavesdropper?"

"No, uncle, but--"

"Hang your buts, you impudent young dog! But--but--"

"You said hang buts, uncle."

"Bah! Pooh! Well, really, doctor, I suppose I ought to have spoken
when I woke up, and put you all on your guard in case you might have--
Here, what does the old proverb say? `Listeners never hear any good of
themselves.' Of course you might have said--you, Mark, boy, I mean--
said that I was a stingy old fellow and didn't allow you enough pocket
money."

"Well, I don't think you do, father," cried Mark; "but I shouldn't have
said so."

"Good boy! But I do allow you, sir, twice as much as my father used to
allow me when I was your age. And then Dean might have followed it up
by talking about my temper."

"I shouldn't, uncle."

"Ah, I don't know, sir. I am what Mrs Blinks calls a bit trying when
my gout's bad. And then I might have heard the doctor say--oh, no, he
would say nothing but what would come from a gentleman."

"Thank you, sir," said the doctor, as he stood erect now, and his words
were followed by a low sigh as if of satisfaction.

"Yes, I ought to have spoken, boys," continued the baronet, "but you
mustn't set it down as being dishonourable. Why, you ought to have
heard me chuckling softly as I lay back there in the darkness,
listening. Why, Robertson, this isn't flattery; you have a most
astounding memory, and I must compliment you upon the way