It was not, however, settled very soon. Becky lay trembling on her couch, while Dr Price gave chase round the kitchen to the dogs, lashing at them with his whip, stumbling over chairs, and giving loud and sudden exclamations as they continually escaped his grasp. At last, however, he caught them, and with one white body dangling from each hand, carried them to the door, threw them out, and shut it. Then he straightened himself, wiped his forehead with his handkerchief, and cast a glance at his patient. "Little beggars!" he said half admiringly. But now that the danger was over, Becky broke down entirely, and the doctor was dismayed to see that she was sobbing violently, and could not say a word. He strode across the room, and put his arm gently round her. "It's all right, you know, Becky," he said kindly; "the kitten's all right. You mustn't cry so now. They frightened you, didn't they? But they shan't come in again." Becky struggled with her tears, and after a while she was able to say that 'twarn't only the dogs, but her back was a bit bad to-day, and she didn't seem to be able to help crying. "H'm," said the doctor, pulling his hay-coloured moustache thoughtfully, and glancing at the empty plate. "What time did you have dinner?" "About one," said Becky faintly; "but I didn't just seem to care about it." "But I daresay you could fancy something now, couldn't you?" said Dr Price, getting up. "Something very nice and hot. I'll be back in a minute. Don't you mind the dogs; they can't get in." In a very short space of time he was out of the door and back again, followed, not by the dogs, but by a boy from the cook-shop, carrying a covered dish. "Now," he said, "you just set to work on this, and you'll feel ever so much better." Becky's eyes brightened at the smell of the savoury food. Hot roast mutton and potatoes seemed almost too good to be eaten all by herself; but she did not hesitate long, and began her meal with evident enjoyment. Dr Price sat near, whistling very softly to himself, and sometimes leaving off to smile a little under his light moustache, as Snip and Snap continued to hurl themselves with hoarse cries against the door. "Well," he said, as Becky lingered over the last piece on her plate, "how do you like my physic? Is it good?" "It's beautiful, sir," answered Becky, "and it's done me a deal of good; but might I give this bit to the kitten? She didn't have much dinner more than me to-day." "To be sure," said the doctor, and he watched with serious interest while Becky prepared a little meal for her pet, and put the plate on the floor. "So _you've_ got a cat, have you," he continued, bending down to examine the grey kitten. "Little Miss Chester offered me a cat the other day." "That's Master Dennis Chester's sister, ain't it?" asked Becky with sudden interest. "Do you know him too?" The doctor nodded. "I see them about often," he said. "Nice little girl, and nice little boy."