"Oh no," said the old man in a louder voice, "don't tell of me. I didn't do nobody any harm—don't fetch anybody; don't thee now—they'll lock me up if they come!" [Illustration: "I'LL FETCH SOMEBODY," SAID AUDREY.] "Mr. Robin won't lock you up," said Audrey; "he's very kind is Mr. Robin." He made no answer to this, so Audrey did not speak to him again, but at once began to creep past him. She was still trembling so much that she could hardly stand, but she managed to make her way back to the old houses, though not so quickly as she had come. She stopped at Granny Robin's window, and knocked on the pane. Mr. Robin opened it. "Why, Audrey," he said, "what are you doing at this time of night—and all wet and dripping, too?" She could hardly tell him what she wanted, for her heart was beating so fast with the fright she had had; but she begged him to come with her, and to come at once, and to bring a candle with him. CHAPTER X Old Joe MR. ROBIN climbed out of the window, and taking Audrey's hand in his, he told her to guide him to the place where she had heard the voice. She led him in and out amongst the tombstones; as far as the east window of the church. Then, when they were sheltered from the wind and the rain under the church wall, he lighted his candle, and they went round the corner to the north side of the old building. There, on the grass under the yew tree, lay an old man, so small, so thin, so shrivelled, that he looked no bigger than a boy twelve years old. His hat had fallen from his head, and his untidy grey hair hung upon his shoulders, and round his neck was a board on which was written the one word—"Blind." The old man's eyes were closed, and he took no notice of them as they bent over him. Mr. Robin took hold of his hand, and it was cold as ice; then he felt his threadbare clothes, and these were wet through with the rain, and so was his old red scarf, which he had untied, and which was lying beside him on the grass. "I think he is dying, Audrey," said Mr. Robin gravely. But just then the old man opened his eyes, and said in a trembling voice— "Don't tell of me—don't let them lock me up! I didn't do no harm to nobody." "We'll take him to the fire," said Mr. Robin. "Go and get Stephen's father to help me, Audrey; he'll be in by now." Very gently the two men carried him through the churchyard, whilst Audrey went before them with the candle. They took him into Mr. Robin's house, and put him in Granny Robin's arm-chair before a blazing fire. Then Audrey went to tell Aunt Cordelia, and to ask her to come and help them. The kettle was soon boiled, and they gave him some hot tea, and then the colour came back a little into his ashen face, and he said— "Thank you. I'm better now. You won't tell of me—will you?" "What is there to tell?" asked Mr. Robin. "You won't tell of me sleeping in the old church. I don't do no hurt to anybody." Mr. Robin and Stephen's father looked at each other.