98 DOGGED 7ACK.

 "'Ay did he, and no one else, Master Robert, and
 nothing would do for him but he must put the
 beasties into it himself for fear we'd harm them, and
 even to the clean hay, he made them all comfortable
 with his own hands just as ye see.'
 "My eyes filled with tears as she spoke, and I
 felt my face grow crimson with shame as I bent
 over my favourites and feigned to be tending
 them.
 "In a moment or two the old woman continued,
'And so, Master Robert, ye didn't go to the doctor's
after all ?-'deed, then, I told the master he'd feel
better when you came home'--
 "'What do you mean, Betsy?' I asked hurriedly,
rising from my knees, and going over to her, the
terrible pangs of remorse beginning to shoot through
my heart-' was my father feeling ill ?'
 "'And didn't he tell you?' asked Betsy in
astonishment, 'why, he was taken faint-like in the
afternoon, and says I to him, "Sir, it's just the heat
of the sun with you a galloping up and down this
steep hill about that rabbit hutch," and says he to
me, Betsy," says he, as soon as ever Master Robert
comes in I'll send him down to "'
 "But I was out of earshot before the good woman
had finished her long sentences, for the last lingering
evil thoughts of my heart had been slain by her