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"Hah!" said Peter, with a laugh; "he told me he meant to keep his eye on you." Just then there was a call for Dan'l from the direction of the house, and Mrs Millett was seen beyond a laurel hedge. Directly after the old man went up to the house, and it seemed to Dexter as if a cloud had passed from across the sun.
To make matters worse, about that time Dan'l watched him more and more; Peter was unwell and very snappish; there was a little difficulty with Mrs Millett over some very strong camomile-tea which Dexter did not take; and on account of a broken soap-dish which Maria took it into her head Dexter meant to lay to her charge, that young lady refused even to answer the boy when he spoke; lastly, the doctor seemed to be remarkably thoughtful and stern.
"Oh! very well," said Mrs Millett tartly. "Master's master, and he has a right to do what he likes; but if there's anything I can't abear in a house it's a boy in buttons. They're limbs, that's what they are; regular young imps." "Going to keep a page!" said Maria, whose eyes looked a little less round. "Why, of course, girl; and it's all stuff." "Well, I don't know," said Maria thoughtfully.
PS I mean Obed Coleby, for I ought not to call myself Dexter any more, and I would have scratched it out, only you always said it was better not to scratch out mistakes because they made the paper look so untidy. I like you very much, and Mrs Millett too, but I can't take her fiz physick to-night. Is physick spelt with a k?
"Ah, you may call it rubbish, Mrs Millett, but if you'd seen that boy just now stealing " "Stealing, Maria?" "Yes 'm, stealing into Master's study like a thief in the night and after no good, I'll be bound, you wouldn't be so ready to take his part." "Gone in to write his lessons," said Mrs Millett. "There, you go and get about your work." Maria snorted, stuck out her chin, and left the kitchen.
Then, according to custom, Maria departed with her nose in the air, and her bosom overcharged with indignant remonstrances, which she was going to let off at Mrs Millett. The meal was commenced in silence, Dexter taking up his knife and fork, and watching by turns the doctor and Helen, to see how they handled theirs.
Then she had grumbling bitterly all the time given the jacket, vest, and trousers a good shake, and hung them over a clothes-horse as near to the fire as she could get them without singeing. Mrs Millett told her to be sure and get them nice and dry, and Maria did get them "nice and dry." And now Dexter had put them on and presented himself before Helen, suggesting that he looked a guy.
I heard in a roundabout way that she's going to marry an old neighbour of theirs, chap called Major Millett, Hopscotch Millett, old Sabre used to call him. However, that's not the thing though it would be a complication that I mean will have happened and will make him see, and thank God for, that what is is best. What do I mean? What will have happened meanwhile?
I can draw you about here, where it's all nice and warm and sheltered, and what I say is this: if you can find a better place for a inv'lid to get strong in than my garden, I should like to see it. Humph! There's Missus Millett working her arms about like a mad windmill. Got some more jelly or blammondge for you, I s'pose.
So Dexter had the constant attention of a clever physician and two nurses, who watched by him night and day, the doctor often taking his turn to relieve Helen or Mrs Millett, so that a little rest might be theirs.
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