n way, and they came down with a rush, to the
intense astonishment of all; but the distance to fall was only about
five feet, and the wonder connected with the fall was as nothing to that
felt by Helen and her father, as the smallest figure of the trio
struggled to his feet, and revealed the dusty, soot-smeared face of
Dexter, with his eyes staring wildly from the Doctor to Helen and back
again.

"Dexter!" cried Helen.

"You, sir!" cried the doctor.

"Well, I _ham_!" ejaculated Peter, getting up and giving his thigh a
slap.

Dan'l sat on the floor rubbing his back, and he uttered a grunt as his
face expanded till he displayed all his front teeth--a dismal array of
four, and not worth a bite.

"Are you hurt?" cried Helen.

Dexter shook his head.

"Are either of you hurt?" said the doctor frowning.

"Screwed my off fetlock a bit, sir," said Peter, stooping to feel his
right ankle.

"Hurt?" growled Dan'l. "Well, sir, them's 'bout the hardest boards as
ever I felt."

"Go and ask Mrs Millett to give you both some ale," said the doctor;
and the two men smiled as they heard their master's prescription. "Then
go on and tell the builder to come and patch up this old roof. Here,
Dexter, come in."

Dexter gave Peter a reproachful look, and limped after the doctor.

"Well, let's go and have that glass o' beer Peter," said Dan'l. "Talk
about pickles!"

"My!" said Peter, slapping his leg again. "Why, it were him we see
every night, and as swum across the river. Why, he must ha' swum back
when I'd gone. I say, Dan'l, what a game!"

"Hah!" ejaculated the old gardener, wiping his mouth in anticipation.
"It's my b'lief, Peter, as that there boy'll turn out either a reg'lar
good un, or 'bout the wust as ever stepped."

"Now, sir!" said the doctor, as he closed the door of the library, and
then with a stern look at the grimy object before him took a seat
opposite Helen. "What have you to say for yourself!"

Dexter glanced at Helen, who would not meet his gaze.

"Nothing, sir."

"Oh, you have nothing to say! Let me see, now. You were sent to a good
school to be taught by a gentleman, and treated as a special pupil. You
behaved badly. You ran away. You came here and made yourself a den;
you have been living by plunder ever since, and you have nothing to
say!"

Dexter was silent, but his face was working, his lips quivering, and his
throat seemed to swell as his breath came thick and fast.

At last hi