in
HER mouth, flew to meet him. There was a rapturous conjugal embrace,
followed by mutual inquiries; and the wagon drew up at the door. Then,
for the first time, Falcon observed Staines, saw at once he was a
gentleman, and touched his hat to him, to which Christopher responded in
kind, and remembered he had done so in the locked-up past.

Phoebe instantly drew her husband apart by the sleeve. "Who do you think
that is? You'll never guess. 'Tis the great doctor that saved Dick's
life in England with cutting of his throat. But, oh, my dear, he is not
the man he was. He is afflicted. Out of his mind partly. Well, we must
cure him, and square the account for Dick. I'm a proud woman at finding
him, and bringing him here to make him all right again, I can tell you.
Oh, I am happy, I am happy. Little did I think to be so happy as I am.
And, my dear, I have brought you a whole sackful of newspapers, old and
new."

"That is a good girl. But tell me a little more about him. What is his
name?"

"Christie."

"Dr. Christie?"

"No doubt. He wasn't an apothecary, or a chemist, you may be sure, but
a high doctor, and the cleverest ever was or ever will be: and isn't it
sad, love, to see him brought down so? My heart yearns for the poor
man: and then his wife--the sweetest, loveliest creature you ever--oh!"
Phoebe stopped very short, for she remembered something all of a sudden;
nor did she ever again give Falcon a chance of knowing that the woman,
whose presence had so disturbed him, was this very Dr. Christie's wife.
"Curious!" thought she to herself, "the world to be so large, and yet so
small:" then aloud, "They are unpacking the wagon; come, dear. I don't
think I have forgotten anything of yours. There's cigars, and
tobacco, and powder, and shot, and bullets, and everything to make you
comfortable, as my duty 'tis; and--oh, but I'm a happy woman."

Hottentots, big and little, clustered about the wagon. Treasure after
treasure was delivered with cries of delight; the dogs found out it was
a joyful time, and barked about the wheeled treasury; and the place did
not quiet down till sunset.

A plain but tidy little room was given to Christopher, and he slept
there like a top. Next morning his nurse called him up to help her water
the grass. She led the way with a tub on her head and two buckets in it.
She took him to the dam; when she got there she took out the buckets,
left one on the bank, and gave the other to Christie. Sh