Part 86 (1/2)

”Went off fast asleep, sir, as any one would ha' thought,” said Peter.

”And seeing him like that I thought I'd just go down and fetch myself a cup o' tea; but no sooner was I out o' the room than he must have slipped out and dressed hisself--shamming, you know--and if I hadn't come back in the nick o' time he'd have been gone.”

The doctor frowned, and Sir James looked satisfied, as he gave him a nod.

”Going to run away, eh!”

”Yes, Sir James,” said the groom; ”and it was as much as I could do to hold him.”

”Get up, Peter,” said the doctor.

The groom rose, and Dexter leapt up like a bit of spring, and darted toward the door.

But Sir James was close to it, and catching the boy by the arm he held him.

”Take hold, of him, my man,” he said; ”and don't let him go.”

Peter obeyed, getting a tight grip of Dexter's wrist.

”Now, you give in,” he whispered. ”It's no good, for I shan't let go.”

”Bring him down,” said Sir James sternly.

Peter shook his head warningly at Dexter, and then, as Sir James and the doctor went down to their room, Peter followed with his prisoner, who looked over the bal.u.s.trade as if measuring the distance and his chance if he made a jump.

”Now,” said Sir James, as the boy was led into the room; ”stand there, sir, and I warn you that if you attempt to run away I shall have in the police, and be more stern. You, my man, go and tell the gardener to bring up the other boy.”

Peter left the room after giving Dexter a glance, and the doctor began to walk up and down angrily. He wanted to take the business into his own hands, but Sir James was a magistrate, and it seemed as if he had a right to take the lead.

There was a painful silence, during which Dexter stood hanging his head, and feeling as if he wished he had been drowned, instead of being brought round to undergo such a painful ordeal as this.

Ten minutes must have elapsed before a scuffling was heard upon the stairs, and Bob Dimsted's voice whimpering--

”You let me alone, will yer? I never done nothing to you. Pair o'

great cowards, y'are. Don't knock me about, or it'll be the worse for yer. Hit one o' your own size. I never said nothing to you.”

This was continued and repeated right into the room, Dan'l looking very severe and earnest, and holding on by the boy's collar, half-dragging him, while Peter pushed behind, and then closed the door, and stood before it like a sentry.

”You have not been striking the boy, I hope!” said the doctor.

”Strike him, sir? no, not I,” said Dan'l; ”but I should like to. Been a-biting and kicking like a neel to get away.”

Sir James had never seen an eel kick, but he accepted the simile, and turning to Bob, who was whimpering and howling--”knocking me about”--”never said nothing to him”--”if my father was here,” etc.

”Silence!” roared Sir James, in his severest tones; and Bob gave quite a start and stared.

”Now, sir,” said Sir James. ”Here, both of you; stand together, and mind this: it will be better for both of you if you are frank and straightforward.”

”I want to go home,” whimpered Bob. ”Y'ain't no business to stop me here.”

”Silence!” roared Sir James; and Bob jumped.