"Yes, he has found some very good ones in the twopenny boxes--you know--the boxes which they mark ’THIS LOT 2d.’" Dora laughed. "Does Mr Somers go routing about for old books in those boxes?" "Yes; he has made several ’finds,’ as he calls them. My friend bought some from him a short time ago." "What! has he been selling them again?" "Yes; I wonder why! He called on my friend quite late one night, and sold him twelve very valuable books. He got fifty pounds for them. I wonder why he sold them--he is so fond of his old books! But here we are! Isn’t it a queer, musty old place!" Koko received the girls with a smile of genuine pleasure. He bustled about and got tea for them, and then Dora played to them both on a very old but still tuneful piano that Koko had picked up at a sale years since. Then, while Miss Cook sat down and tried to pick out a march on the piano, Koko showed Dora his treasures, and spent quite a time telling her little anecdotes as to how this book and that book had come into his possession. While he talked, Dora was putting two and two together. She remembered how amazed Jim had looked when Koko said he was going to set up in Mount street, and she remembered how Koko had hurried away in the middle of dinner. She understood now why he had done so. "Some have gone from here," said Dora, pointing to a gap in one of the shelves. "Yes," said Koko, in an off-hand way, "I have a clear-out occasionally." "Did you sell them?" she asked. "Rather--I don’t give my books away." "And did you get a good price for them?" "Fair," said Koko; "yes, a fair price." Miss Cook ended up with a loud and inharmonious chord, and rose from the piano. "Come, Dora--we must be going." "Oh, don’t go yet," urged Koko. "We must--it is getting late, and Dora is expected at home. Good-bye, Mr Somers." They shook hands, and Miss Cook sauntered out into the passage. And now Dora had to say good-bye. "Mr Somers--I know why you sold those books. You wanted to help Dr Mortimer." Koko gazed at her for a few moments without speaking, and then said, quite simply: "Yes, I did. Jim’s my best friend. I’d do anything to help him." [Illustration: "HE’S MY BEST FRIEND," SAID KOKO.] As he spoke, his glance wandered to the half-emptied shelf. Much as he loved his old books, however, he did not regret his recent sacrifice. "You are a very good man, Mr Somers--very kind and good. I only wish," she added, with demure hesitation, "that I were a little younger, for then it would be quite proper for me to--to kiss you." "Are you coming, Dora?" Miss Cook was growing impatient. Koko turned to Dora with a smile and took her hand. "If _I_ were a little younger, perhaps it would not be proper," he said gently, "but as I’m ever so much older than you, don’t you think that----" "Why, yes," said Dora, and, bending swiftly, she kissed him. *CHAPTER XVI.* *JIM’S PATIENTS.*