he doctor soothingly. "Don't you be afraid. We'll
soon settle 'em.--Here, Snip, Snap, come out of that, you rascals."

It was not, however, settled very soon. Becky lay trembling on her
couch, while Dr Price gave chase round the kitchen to the dogs, lashing
at them with his whip, stumbling over chairs, and giving loud and sudden
exclamations as they continually escaped his grasp. At last, however,
he caught them, and with one white body dangling from each hand, carried
them to the door, threw them out, and shut it. Then he straightened
himself, wiped his forehead with his handkerchief, and cast a glance at
his patient.

"Little beggars!" he said half admiringly. But now that the danger was
over, Becky broke down entirely, and the doctor was dismayed to see that
she was sobbing violently, and could not say a word. He strode across
the room, and put his arm gently round her.

"It's all right, you know, Becky," he said kindly; "the kitten's all
right. You mustn't cry so now. They frightened you, didn't they? But
they shan't come in again."

Becky struggled with her tears, and after a while she was able to say
that 'twarn't only the dogs, but her back was a bit bad to-day, and she
didn't seem to be able to help crying.

"H'm," said the doctor, pulling his hay-coloured moustache thoughtfully,
and glancing at the empty plate. "What time did you have dinner?"

"About one," said Becky faintly; "but I didn't just seem to care about
it."

"But I daresay you could fancy something now, couldn't you?" said Dr
Price, getting up. "Something very nice and hot. I'll be back in a
minute. Don't you mind the dogs; they can't get in."

In a very short space of time he was out of the door and back again,
followed, not by the dogs, but by a boy from the cook-shop, carrying a
covered dish.

"Now," he said, "you just set to work on this, and you'll feel ever so
much better."

Becky's eyes brightened at the smell of the savoury food. Hot roast
mutton and potatoes seemed almost too good to be eaten all by herself;
but she did not hesitate long, and began her meal with evident
enjoyment. Dr Price sat near, whistling very softly to himself, and
sometimes leaving off to smile a little under his light moustache, as
Snip and Snap continued to hurl themselves with hoarse cries against the
door.

"Well," he said, as Becky lingered over the last piece on her plate,
"how do you like my physic? Is it good?"

"It's beautiful