nd nights, but he shan't have them. I've got a new tumbler,
and--"

"Well, never mind now," replied Jim. "It'll be jest as well when ye come
over to spend the day with me. Now ye look a here! Don't you say nothin'
about this to nobody. They'll all want to go, and we can't have 'em. You
an' I want to git red of the crowd, ye know. We allers did. So when I
come arter ye, jest keep mum, and we'll have a high old time."

All the intellect that Benedict could exercise was summoned to
comprehend this injunction. He nodded his head; he laid it up in his
memory. Hope had touched him, and he had won at least a degree of
momentary strength and steadiness from her gracious finger.

"Now jest lay down an' rest, an' keep your thoughts to yerself till I
come agin. Don't tell nobody I've be'n here, and don't ask leave of
nobody. I'll settle with the old boss if he makes any sort of a row; and
ye know when Jim Fenton says he'll stand between ye and all harm he
means it, an' nothin' else."

"Yes, Jim."

"An' when I come here--most likely in the night--I'll bring a robe to
put on ye, and we'll go out still."

"Yes, Jim."

"Sure you understand?"

"Yes, Jim."

"Well, good-bye. Give us your hand. Here's hopin'."

Benedict held himself up by the slats of the door, while Jim went along
to rejoin the Doctor. Outside of this door was still a solid one, which
had been thrown wide open in the morning for the purpose of admitting
the air. In this door Jim discovered a key, which he quietly placed in
his pocket, and which he judged, by its size, was fitted to the lock of
the inner as well as the outer door. He had already discovered that the
door by which he entered the building was bolted upon the outside, the
keeper doubtless supposing that no one would wish to enter so foul a
place, and trusting thus to keep the inmates in durance.

"Well, Doctor," said Jim, "this sort o' thing is too many for me. I
gi'en it up. It's very interestin', I s'pose, but my head begins to
spin, an' it seems to me it's gettin' out of order. Do ye see my har,
Doctor?" said he, exposing the heavy shock that crowned his head.

"Yes, I see it," replied the Doctor tartly. He thought he had shaken off
his unpleasant visitor, and his return disturbed him.

"Well, Doctor, that has all riz sence I come in here."

"Are you sure?" inquired the Doctor, mollified in the presence of a fact
that might prove to be of scientific interest.

"I'd jest combed it when yo