There was a quick, eager nod and a smile, which made the man look more cheerful for a moment; but as he drew back his hand, he raised his white garment involuntarily and began to wipe the fingers, passing the white cotton over them two or three times before he realised what he was doing. "Oh," he exclaimed hastily, "what a hidiot I am! I beg your pardon, Mr Ben, I do indeed. It seemed to me as if your hand must have come off black. Eh?--Never mind; that's what you look as if you was saying.-- Thankye, sir. That's very good of you. Now you look as if you meant that I should soon get used to it.--Ah, you nod again.--Well, I'm blessed, sir, if I don't think it will begin to get easy after a bit of practice.--There's another of your nods. Thankye, sir. Yes, it will come right after all. I never thought anyone could get through so much business with a few nods and shakes of the head.--Beg pardon, sir.-- Hullo, that's a shake! I'm doing wrong. It takes a bit of time.--You nod. So it does, sir--I mean Mr Ben.--What's that wrong? Why, what have I said?--I know: it's the `mister.' Thought so.--Ben, then, or Ben Eddin. I shall get it soon. Well, I don't want to be a nuisance, but it's very lonely for me, Ben, and if you wouldn't mind, as we are to be a bit together, I should like to come to you when I feel in a bit of a fix." Frank nodded and Sam's face lit-up with pleasure. "That's very nice of you, Ben Eddin," he said eagerly. "You see, I wanted to have a word or two with you about these things. I want to do it right and look proper." Frank nodded. "'Tain't vanity, mind, sir. I ain't a bit conceited, but I should like to feel that I look decent." There was a decisive nod. "Thankye, Ben Eddin. You see, they're so fresh to me. The bit o' scarlet looks right, don't it? Thankye Ben. You don't think it a bit too sojery, do you? No; you don't. Well, I'm glad o' that, for I felt as it took off a bit of the washer-womany, night-gowny idea. Then you think I shall do, Ben--Eddin?" Frank nodded approval. "Hah! Makes a man feel a deal better. For between ourselves, Ben Eddin, I got an idea in my head that everyone was a bit on the grin as soon as I came out, and if you could lay your 'and on your 'eart now and say to me with one of your straightforward looks without blinking your eyes that it was all my fancy I could go on as comfortable as could be, for they are out and out nice and cool." Frank gave his companion the asked-for steady look, and smilingly laid his hand upon his breast. "Thankye, Ben Eddin. You always were a pleasant gentleman that it was a treat to have staying at Wimpole Street. Wimpole Street!--Ha, ha, ha!" said Sam, laughing softly. "My word! how comic it does seem. What would they say in Wimpole Street if they could--" Sam stopped short, and a look of pain crossed his face.