smile. "I am as much frightened as she is, John. And, remember,
if there is anything to be done--anything----"

"There is nothing but a little common sense wanted," said John. But as
he drove away from the door, and saw the hawker with the needles still
about, the ladies had so infected him that it was all he could do to
restrain an inclination to take the vagrant by the collar and throw him
down the combe.

"Who's that fellow hanging about?" he said to Pearson, who was driving
him; "and what does he want here?"

"Bless you, sir! that's Joe," Pearson said. "He's after no harm. He's
honest enough as long as there ain't nothing much in his way; and he's
waiting for the pieces as cook gives him once a week when he comes his
rounds. There's no harm in poor Joe."

"I suppose not, since you say so," said John; "but you know the ladies
are rather nervous, Pearson. You must keep a look-out that no
suspicious-looking person hangs about the house."

"Bless us! Mr. John," said Pearson, "what are they nervous about?--the
baby? But nobody wants to steal a baby, bless your soul!"

"I quite agree with you," said John, much relieved (though he considered
Pearson an old fool, in a general way) to have his own opinion confirmed.
"But, all the same, I wish you would be doubly particular not to admit
anybody you don't know; and if any man should appear to bother them send
for me on the moment. Do you hear?"

"What do you call any man, sir?" said Pearson, smartly. He had ideas of
his own, though he might be a fool.

"I mean what I say," said John, more sharply still. "Any one that
molests or alarms them. Send me off a telegram at once--'You're wanted!'
That will be quite enough. But don't go with it to the office yourself;
send somebody--there's always your boy about the place--and keep about
like a dragon yourself."

"I'll do my best, sir," said Pearson, "though I don't know what a dragon
is, except it's the one in the Bible; and that's not a thing anybody
would want about the place."

It was a comfort to John, after all his troubles, to be able to laugh,
which he did with a heartiness which surprised Pearson, who was quite
unaware that he had made any joke.

These fears, however, which were imposed upon him by the contagion
of the terrors of the others, soon passed from John's mind. He was
convinced that Phil Compton would take no such step; and that, however
much he might wish his wife to return, the possession of the baby w