The breakfast-things were still on the table. Mr. Halliwell had had his breakfast, but Mrs. Halliwell would not eat until she had found the boy. She had been unhappy about him all the night. Her husband had assured her the sovereign was a good one, and the boy had told her he had no money but the sovereign! She little knew how seldom he fared better than that same night! When he got among hay or straw, that was luxury. They sat down to breakfast, and the good woman was very soon confirmed in the notion that the boy was a gentleman. “Call your dog now,” she said, “an’ let’s see if he’ll come!” “May I whistle, ma’am?” “Why not!--But will he hear you?” “He has very sharp ears, ma’am.” Clare gave a low, peculiar whistle. In a second or two, they heard an anxious little whine at the door. Clare made haste to open it. There stood Abdiel, with the words in his eyes, as plain almost as if he spoke them--“Did you call, sir?” The woman caught him and held him to her bosom. “You blessed little thing!” she said. And surely if there be a blessing to be had, it is for them that obey. Clare heard and felt the horses put-to, but the hostess of this Scythian house did not rise, and he too went on with his breakfast. When they were in motion, it was not so easy to eat nicely, but he managed very well. By the time he had done, they had left the town behind them. He wanted to help Mrs. Halliwell with the breakfast-things, but whether she feared he would break some of them, or did not think it masculine work, she would not allow him. Nothing had been said about his going with them; she had taken that for granted. Clare began to think perhaps he ought to take his leave: there was nothing for him to do! He and Abdiel ought at least to get out and walk, instead of burdening the poor horses with their weight, when they were so well rested, and had had such a good breakfast! But when he said so to Mrs. Halliwell, she told him she must have a little talk with him first, and formally proposed that he should enter their service, and do whatever he was fit for in the menagerie. “You’re not frightened of the beasts, are you?” she said. “Oh no, ma’am; I love them!” answered Clare. “But are you sure Mr. Halliwell thinks I could be of use?” “Don’t you think yourself you could?” asked Mrs. Halliwell. “I know I could, ma’am; but I should not like him to take me just because he was sorry for me!” “You innocent! People are in no such hurry to help their neighbours. My husband’s as good a man as any going; but it don’t mean he would take a boy because nobody else would have him. A fool of a woman might--I won’t say; but not a man I ever knew. No, no! He saw the way you managed that bull!--a far more unreasonable creature than any we have to do with!” “Ah! you don’t know Nimrod, ma’am!” “I don’t, an’ I don’t want to!--Such wild animals ought to be put in caravans!” she added, with a laugh.