dn't that six-footer say a terrier dog _was_ reskooed from the
lower premises? To be sure there's many a terrier dog in London, but
then didn't he likewise say that the gov'ness o' the family is a pretty
gal? Wot more likely than that she's _my_ young lady? All that, you
see, granny, is what the magistrates would call presumptuous evidence.
But I'll go and inquire for myself this wery evenin' w'en you're all
settled an comf'rable, an' w'en I've got Mrs Jones to look arter you."

That evening, accordingly, when Robin Slidder--as I shall now call him--
was away making his inquiries, Dr McTougall called on Mrs Willis. She
was very weak and low at the time. The memory of her lost Edie had been
heavy upon her, and she felt strangely disinclined to talk. The kindly
doctor did not disturb her more than was sufficient to fully investigate
her case.

When about to depart he took Mrs Jones into the passage.

"Now, my good woman," he said, "I hope you will see the instructions you
heard me give to Mrs Willis carried out. She is very low, but with
good food and careful nursing may do well. Can you give her much of
your time?"

"La, sir! yes. I'm a lone woman, sir, with nothin' to do but take care
of myself; an' I'm that fond of Mrs Willis--she's like my own mother."

"Very good. And what of this boy who has come to live with her? D'you
think he is steady--to be depended on?"

"Indeed I do, sir!" replied Mrs Jones, with much earnestness. "Though
he did come from nowheres in partiklar, an' don't b'long to nobody, he's
a good boy, is little Slidder, and a better nurse you'll not find in all
the hospitals."

"I wish I had found him at home. Will you give him this card, and tell
him to call on me to-morrow morning between eight and nine? Let him ask
particularly for me--Dr McTougall. I'm not in my own house, but in a
friend's at present; I was burnt out of my house last night."

"Oh, sir!" exclaimed Mrs Jones with a shocked expression.

"Yes; accidents will happen, you know, to the most careful among us,
Mrs Jones," said the little doctor, with a smile, as he drew on his
gloves. "Good evening. Take care of your patient now; I'm much
interested in her case--because of the young doctor who visits her
sometimes."

"Dr Mellon?" exclaimed the woman.

"Yes. You know him?"

"Know him! I should think I do! He has great consideration for the
poor. Ah! he _is_ a gentleman, is Mr Mellon!"

"He is more than a ge