ook hands, and Macey hurried down to the doctor and Mrs Lee.

"Here, he's ever so much better and worse, too, sir," cried Macey.

The doctor started up in alarm.

"Oh, no, sir; he's quiet enough, but he thinks it was only last night
when he was knocked about."

"Convalescents are often rather hazy about their chronology," said the
doctor.

"But he's clear enough in one thing, sir; he says it was the two gipsy
lads who set upon him with sticks."

"Ah!" cried the doctor.

"And I came down to ask you if these two fellows ought not to be
caught."

"Yes, yes, of course," cried the doctor. "But first of all we must be
sure whether he is quite clear in his head. This may be an illusion."

"Well, sir, it may be," replied Macey, "but if I'd had such a knocking
about as poor Vane, I shouldn't make any mistake about it as soon as I
could begin to think."

"Stay here," said the doctor. "I'll go up and see him."

He went up and all doubt about his nephew's clearness of memory was at
an end, for Vane began at once.

"I've been lying here some time, haven't I, uncle?"

"Yes, my boy; a long while."

"I was very stupid just now when Macey was here. It seemed to me that
it was only last night that I was in the wood getting truffles, when
those two gipsy lads attacked me, but, of course, I've been very ill
since."

"Yes, my boy, very."

"The young scoundrels! There was the basket and trowel, I remember."

"Yes, my boy, they brought them home."

"That's right. It was your little bright trowel, and--oh, of course I
remember that now. I was taking the bottle of liniment, and one of the
lad's sticks struck me on the breast, where I had the bottle in my
pocket, and shivered it."

"Struck you with his stick?"

"Yes. I made as hard a fight of it as I could, but they were too much
for me."

"Don't think about it any more now, but try and have a nap," said the
doctor quietly. "I want to go down."

Vane sighed.

"What's the matter, boy, fresh pain?"

"No, I was thinking what a trouble I am to you, uncle."

"Trouble, boy? Why, it's quite a treat," said the doctor, laughing. "I
was quite out of practice, and I'm in your debt for giving me a little
work."

"Don't thank me, uncle," said Vane with a smile, though it was only the
shadow of his usual hearty laugh. "I wouldn't have given you the job if
I could have helped it."

The doctor nodded, patted the boy's shoulder and went down, for Vane in
his weak