Quicksilver | Page 9

injured air; "but I feel bound to tell you the boy's character."
"Yes; of course."
"And to warn you, sir, that you will bring him back in less than a week."
"No, Mr Hippetts," said the doctor quietly; "I shall not bring him back."
"Well, sir; if you are satisfied I have nothing to say."
"I am satisfied, Mr Hippetts."
"But he is not so old as you said, sir."
"No."
"And you wanted a boy of good character."
"Yes; but I recall all I said. That is the boy I want. Can I take him at once?"
"At once, sir!" said the master, as the little fellow, with his face a study, listened eagerly, and looked from one to the other. "I shall have to bring your proposal before the Board."
"That is to say, before me and my colleagues," said the doctor, smiling. "Well, as one of the Guardians, I think I may venture to take the boy now, and the formal business can be settled afterwards."
"Oh yes, sir; of course. And I venture to think, sir, that it will not be necessary to go on with it."
"Why, Mr Hippetts?"
"Because," said the master, with a peculiar smile which was reflected in the schoolmaster's face; "you are sure to bring him back."
"I think I said before I shall not bring him back," replied the doctor coldly.
The master bowed, and Mr Sibery cleared his throat and frowned at the boys.
"Then I think that's all," said the doctor, laying his hand upon the boy's head.
"Do I understand you, sir, to mean that you want to take him now?"
"Directly."
"But his clothes, sir; and he must be--"
"I want to take him directly, Mr Hippetts, with your permission, and he will need nothing more from the Union."
"Very good, sir; and I hope that he will take your kindness to heart. Do you hear, Coleby? And be a very good boy to his benefactor, and--"
"Yes, yes, yes, Mr Hippetts," said the doctor, cutting him short. "I'm sure he will. Now, my man, are you ready?"
"Yes, sir," cried the boy eagerly; "but--"
"Well?" said the doctor kindly.
"I should like to say good-bye to some of the chaps, and I've got something to give 'em."
"Indeed! what?"
"Well, sir; I want to give Dick Dean my mouse, and Tommy Robson my nicker, and share all my buttons among the chaps in my dormitory; and then I've six pieces of string and a pair of bones, and a sucker."
"Go and share them, and say good-bye to them all," said the doctor, drawing a breath full of satisfaction; and the boy darted away full of excitement.
"May I say a word to the boys, Mr Sibery?" said the doctor, smiling.
"Certainly, sir."
"Will you call for silence?"
The master called, and the doctor asked the lads to give their old schoolfellow a cheer as he was going away.
They responded with a shout that made the windows rattle.
"And now," said the doctor, "I'm going to ask Mr Hippetts to give you all a holiday, and I am leaving threepence a piece to be distributed among you, so that you may have a bit of fun."
Mr Hippetts smiled as he took the money, and the boys cheered again, in the midst of which shouts the doctor moved off with his charge, but only for his protege to break away from him, and run to offer his hand to Mr Sibery, who coughed slightly, and shook hands limply, as if he were conferring a great favour.
The boy then held out his hand to the master, and he also shook hands in a dignified way.
"Shall I send the boy on, sir?" said Mr Hippetts.
"Thanks, no, Hippetts; I'll take him with me."
"Would you like a fly, sir?"
"No, Hippetts; I'm not ashamed for people to see what I do. Come along, my lad."
"Please, sir; mayn't I say good-bye to Mother Curdley?"
"Mother Curdley? Who is she!"
"Nurse, sir."
"The woman who had charge of him when he was a tiny fellow."
"Ah! to be sure. Yes, certainly," said the doctor. "He may, of course?"
"Oh! certainly, sir. Run on, boy, and we'll follow."
"No larks," said the boy sharply, as he looked at the doctor.
"No; I shall not run away, my man."
The boy darted down a long whitewashed passage, and the doctor said:--
"I understand you to say that he has no friends whatever!"
"None, sir, as far as we know. Quite a foundling."
"That will do," said the doctor; and while the boy was bidding good-bye to the old woman who had tended the sick tramp, the master led the way to the nursery, where about a dozen children were crawling about and hanging close to a large fire-guard. Others were being nursed on the check aprons of some women, while one particularly sour creature was rocking a monstrous cradle, made like a port-wine basket, with six compartments, in every one of which was an unfortunate babe.
"Which he's a very good