Becky gave a solemn shake of the head. "He's more than nice," she said; "he's just splendid. Do you know what he did for father?" Mr Price did not know; and Becky, strengthened and refreshed by her dinner, sat up eagerly on her sofa and told him the whole story, to which he listened very gravely. "Well, that's a very good job," he said, as she ended. "We must hope Mr Tuvvy will be able to keep straight. But there's lots of public-houses in Upwell, you know, as well as the Cross Keys at Fieldside, to tempt a man." "They don't matter near so much," said Becky. "Father don't as a rule want to go out again after he's once home. Not unless," she added, with a little sigh, "it's washing day." Dr Price gave a slow smile, took out his watch, and jumped to his feet with a suddenness that made Becky start. "I ought to be seven miles off by this," he said, striding to the door. "Good-bye, Becky." He seemed to Becky to make one spring from the door to his horse's back, and to gallop furiously up the street the next minute. There were one or two sharp, shrill shrieks from Snip and Snap as they tore after him, and then all was silent. Dr Price's visits often ended in this abrupt way, but Becky wished he could have stayed a little longer this afternoon, for she was just going to ask him to take a message for her to Master Dennis, and say how very grateful she and Dan felt. However, as that could not be, she comforted herself by making up her mind to ask him next time he came, and settled cosily down to wait for Dan's arrival, when she could tell him all that had passed. CHAPTER NINE. PHILIPPA'S VISIT. "There is no doubt," said Mrs Trevor, "that the air of Fieldside suits dear Philippa; it seems to sooth her nerves." "I think it does," answered Miss Mervyn. "And there is no doubt," continued Mrs Trevor, "that the child needs change. She is unusually uncertain in her temper, and Dr Smith advised the sea-side at once. But it would be much easier to send her to my sister's." "And she would have her cousins to play with," suggested Miss Mervyn. "I do so wish Katharine had not such odd notions," continued Mrs Trevor discontentedly; "it quite makes me hesitate to let Philippa go there much. Those children are allowed to mix with all sorts of people." "They are nice little children," Miss Mervyn ventured to say. "Nice enough at _present_," said Mrs Trevor, "but who knows how they will grow up? If I were their father--However, you think it would be a good plan to ask my sister to have Philippa for a few days?" "I certainly do," said Miss Mervyn, with earnest conviction. Every one at Haughton Park thought so too, for Philippa had been so troublesome lately, that she had made the whole household uncomfortable as well as herself. "The dear child must be ill," Mrs Trevor said, and sent for Dr Smith.