"How interesting! And do you think I want washing?" The twinkle was in the captain's eye again. "I believe your inside does," said Peggy. "You said it was awful bad, didn't you, sir?" "Did I? Well, Peggy, if I ever follow your advice, I will let you know. Now you hurry up and get well. Have you got all you want?" Peggy smiled. "I has everythink, please sir." "That's right. Goodbye." He nodded to her and was gone. Peggy fingered her bank-notes with her bandaged hands. When the nurse came to her, she said— "Nurse, I ain't quite sure of my sight yet; How many shillin's is there in those two bits o' paper?" Peggy would not confess her ignorance of the value of bank-notes. She had never seen one in her life before. "Shillings!" laughed the nurse. "Pounds, you mean. You have ten pounds there, Peggy. Shall I take care of them for you?" Peggy was silent from sheer astonishment. "But 'tis more than a whole year's wages!" she gasped. "Oh, how could he giv' it! Oh my! What a full stockin' I shall have!" She lay and thought of her beloved stocking, and when her burns were about to be dressed, she would say to herself— "Now keep up, Peggy, and think of yer stockin'! That will make yer take no notice of the pain! And think o' the time comin' when the gold will roll out, and you'll hand it up to the missionaries!" CHAPTER XII VISITORS PEGGY had other visitors besides Captain D'Arcy. Mrs. Dale, and Lucy, and Mrs. Creak all came. Nesbitt said 'horsepitals give her the shivers, and she'd never been inside one since her mother had died there,' but Peggy was quite content with a message from her. Lucy was the one she liked best, and Lucy was full of news. "Yes, we're back in the house again, and 'tis only the library be quite destroyed. I says that the water have done more damage than the fire. You should just see the hall and staircase! The gilt pictures and the carpets be properly ruined! Of course they put the fire out, so we mustn't grumble, but 'twill cost a pretty penny to redecorate the ceilings and walls. I'm a-goin' to be left to take care of the house, for Mrs. Dale be going abroad very soon now, and Nesbitt, she goes with her." "And where shall I go when I come out?" asked Peggy, with a long face. "Back to your own ladies, won't you? But you'll be with us before Mrs. Dale goes, I expect, won't you?" Peggy looked doubtful. "'Tis my skin, Lucy. It seems to be so long in comin'. And 'tis awful painful on my legs. I feel as if I shan't never be able to bend of 'em!" "Mr. Bennett, he have gone off with the captain, and he thinks you an awful plucky girl, Peggy. What did you do it for? A lot of old papers be not worth burnin' yourself to death for!" "I had to do it," said Peggy earnestly. "I b'lieve I'd do it to-mower, Lucy, if it all happened over agen. I had to do somethin' for that there capting, and he wanted 'em ever so bad!"