said the doctor.

"And I've got three pairs of boots. I mean two pairs of boots, and one
pair of shoes," cried Dexter. "One pair on, and two in the bedroom; and
I shall get up at six o'clock every morning, and clean 'em, and I'll
clean yours too."

"Hem!" coughed the doctor. "No, my boy, your boots will be cleaned for
you, and you will not have to dirty your hands now."

The boy stared wonderingly, as the doctor enunciated a matter which was
beyond his grasp. But all the time his eyes were as busy as those of a
monkey, and wandering all over the study, and taking in everything he
saw.

"May I leave Dexter with you now!" said Helen, "as I have a few little
matters to see to."

"Yes, yes; of course, my dear. We are beginning capitally. Dexter, my
boy; you can sit down on that chair, and amuse yourself with a book,
while I go on writing."

The boy looked at the chair, then at the doctor, and then at Helen.

"I say, mayn't I go with you?" he said.

"Not now, Dexter, I am going to be very busy. By and by I will take you
for a walk."

Helen nodded, and left the room.

"You'll find some books on that shelf," said the doctor kindly; and he
turned once more to his writing, while Dexter went to the bookcase, and,
after taking down one or two works, found a large quarto containing
pictures.

He returned to the chair the doctor had pointed out, opened the book
upon his knees, turned over a few leaves, and then raised his eyes to
have a good long wondering stare at the doctor, as he sat frowning there
very severely, and in the midst of a great deal of deep thought put down
a sentence now and again.

Dexter's eyes wandered from the doctor to a dark-looking bust upon the
top of a book-shelf. From thence to a brown bust on the opposite shelf,
at which he laughed, for though it was meant for Cicero, it put him
greatly in mind of Mr Sibery, and he then fell a-wondering what the
boys were doing at the workhouse school.

Just then the black marble timepiece on the shelf chimed four quarters,
and struck eleven.

"No matter what may be the descent," wrote the doctor, "the human frame
is composed of the same element."

"I say," cried Dexter loudly.

"Eh? Yes?" said the doctor, looking up.

"What time are you going to have dinner!"

"Dinner? One o'clock, sir. Why, it's not long since you had
breakfast."

"Seems a long time."

"Go on looking at your book."

Dexter obeyed, and the doctor went on writing,