y at Dexter, and then, as Sir James and the
doctor went down to their room, Peter followed with his prisoner, who
looked over the balustrade as if measuring the distance and his chance
if he made a jump.

"Now," said Sir James, as the boy was led into the room; "stand there,
sir, and I warn you that if you attempt to run away I shall have in the
police, and be more stern. You, my man, go and tell the gardener to
bring up the other boy."

Peter left the room after giving Dexter a glance, and the doctor began
to walk up and down angrily. He wanted to take the business into his
own hands, but Sir James was a magistrate, and it seemed as if he had a
right to take the lead.

There was a painful silence, during which Dexter stood hanging his head,
and feeling as if he wished he had been drowned, instead of being
brought round to undergo such a painful ordeal as this.

Ten minutes must have elapsed before a scuffling was heard upon the
stairs, and Bob Dimsted's voice whimpering--

"You let me alone, will yer? I never done nothing to you. Pair o'
great cowards, y'are. Don't knock me about, or it'll be the worse for
yer. Hit one o' your own size. I never said nothing to you."

This was continued and repeated right into the room, Dan'l looking very
severe and earnest, and holding on by the boy's collar, half-dragging
him, while Peter pushed behind, and then closed the door, and stood
before it like a sentry.

"You have not been striking the boy, I hope!" said the doctor.

"Strike him, sir? no, not I," said Dan'l; "but I should like to. Been
a-biting and kicking like a neel to get away."

Sir James had never seen an eel kick, but he accepted the simile, and
turning to Bob, who was whimpering and howling--"knocking me
about"--"never said nothing to him"--"if my father was here," etc.

"Silence!" roared Sir James, in his severest tones; and Bob gave quite a
start and stared.

"Now, sir," said Sir James. "Here, both of you; stand together, and
mind this: it will be better for both of you if you are frank and
straightforward."

"I want to go home," whimpered Bob. "Y'ain't no business to stop me
here."

"Silence!" roared Sir James; and Bob jumped.

Dexter did not move, but stood with his eyes fixed to the floor.

"Now!" said Sir James, gazing fiercely at Bob; "you know, I suppose, why
you are here."

"No! I don't," whimpered Bob. "And y'ain't no business to stop me. I
want to go home."

"Silence, sir