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Updated: May 13, 2025
To properly effect this he still sat fast with the boat-hook across his knees, and in an instant he was back at the doctor's house in Coleby, looking on while Helen was busy reading the letter which had been brought down from the bedroom. Dexter could see her perfectly plainly.
Maria's mother was a washerwoman who lived outside Coleby on the common, and gained her income by acting as laundress generally for all who would intrust her with their family linen; but she called herself in yellow letters on a brilliant scarlet ground a "clear starcher." During Maria's early life at home she had had much experience in the ways of washing. She knew the smell of boiled soap.
Yes; we must have some clothes, and oh, by the way, I had forgotten. Here, my boy." The lad jumped up with alacrity, and came to the doctor's side boldly looking keenly from one to the other. "What did you say your name was!" "Bed Obed Coleby." "Hah!" cried the doctor; "then we'll do away with that at once. Now, what shall we call you!" "I d'know," said the boy, laughing. "Jack?"
Bless me, I thought he was here!" Smash! Tinkle! The sound of breaking glass, and the doctor leaped to his feet, just as a loud gruff voice sounded "Here, you just come down." "Copestake!" cried the doctor. "Why, what is the matter out there!" Mr Grayson's was the best garden for twenty miles round. The Coleby people said so, and they ought to have known.
"How old?" "About eleven, sir." "Humph! Trot him out." "Obed Coleby," said the master in a severe voice. "Coleby, eh?" "Yes, sir. Son of a miserable tramp who died some years ago in the House. No name with him, so we called him after the town." "Humph!" said the doctor, as the little fellow came, full of eagerness and excitement, after kicking at Pillett, who put out a leg to hinder his advance.
"That man says when you go far enough away, you come to islands where the cocoa-nuts grow; and then, all you've got to do is go ashore and pull your boat up on the sands, and when you are hungry you climb a tree and get a cocoa-nut; and every one has got enough meat and drink in it for a meal." "Do you?" "Yerrrs! That you do. That's the sort of place to go and live at. I'm tired o' Coleby."
"Wait a bit, Mr Hippetts," said the doctor more graciously. "Let me question the boy." "Certainly, sir. But he has a very bad record." "Humph! Tells the truth, though," said the doctor. "Here, sir, what's your name?" "Obed Coleby." "Sir!" cried the master. "Obed Coleby, sir," said the boy quickly, correcting himself. "What a name!" ejaculated the doctor. "Yes, ain't it? I hates it, sir."
Helen also agreed that it was very strange, and investigations followed, the result of which proved, beyond doubt, that Dexter Grayson, otherwise Obed Coleby, was really Maximilian Vanburgh, the son of Captain Vanburgh and Alice, his wife, both of whom died within two years of the day when, through the carelessness of a servant, the little fellow strayed away out through the gate and on to the high-road, where he was found far from home, crying, by the rough, tipsy scoundrel who passed that way.
It was a well-known fact in Coleby that the Dimsteds always knew where fish was to be found, and the baskets they made took the place of meat that other fathers and sons of families would have earned. Rod, line, and hooks are prime necessaries for fishing; but a fish rarely bites at a bare hook, so one of Dexter's first proceedings was to obtain some bait.
A dreary prospect, but not half so dreary as Dexter's spirits, as he thought of what was to come. If ever boy felt miserable, he did that next morning, for they were all going back to Coleby. The romantic adventure was at an end, and he was like a prisoner. Why had he left the doctor's? What had he gained by it but misery and wretchedness.
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