“Yes; Skipjack asked me to choose him because he’s that sort of little fellow that won’t give into anything that goes against his conscience, and if one of those fellows had him that say lower boys have no business with consciences, he might be licked within an inch of his life and he’d never give in. He did let himself be put under a pump once at some beastly hole in the country, for not choosing to use bad language, and he has never been so strong since.” “Mother would be glad that at least you allowed him the use of his conscience.” “I’m glad I did now,” said Cecil, with a sigh, “though it was a great nuisance sometimes.” “Was the Monk, as you call him, one of that set?” “Bless you, no, he’s a regular sap, as steady as old time.” “I wonder if he is the son of the doctor whom Medlicott talks of.” “No; his father is alive. He is a colonel, living near their place. The other two are the doctor’s sons; their mother came into the property after his death. Their Maximus was in college at first, and between ourselves, he was a bit of a snob, who couldn’t bear to recollect it.” “Not your friend?” “No, indeed. The eldest one, who has left these two years, and is at Christchurch.” “I am sure the one who came down here was a gentleman.” “So they are, all three of them,” said Cecil, who had never found his brother so ready to hear anything about his Eton life, since in general accounts of the world, from which he was debarred, so jarred on his feelings that he silenced it with apparent indifference, contempt, or petulance. Now, however, Cecil, with his heart full of the Brownlows, could not say more of them than Fordham was willing to hear; nay, he even found an amused listener to some of his good stories of courageous pranks. Fordham was not yet up the next morning when there was a knock at his door, and the doctor came in, answering his eager question with-- “Yes, he has got through this night, but another up in that place would be fatal. We must get them down to Leukerbad.” “Over that long precipitous path?” “It is the only chance. I came down to look up bearers, and rig up a couple of hammocks, as well as to see how you are getting on.” “Oh! I’m very well,” said Lord Fordham, in a tone that meant it, sitting up in bed. “We might ride on to Leukerbad with Reeves, and get rooms ready.” “The best thing you could do,” said Dr. Medlicott, joyfully. “When we are there we can consider what can be done next; and if you wish to go on, I could look up some one there in whose charge to leave them till they could get advice from home; but it is touch and go with that little fellow.” “I’m in no particular hurry,” said Lord Fordham, answering the doctor’s tone rather than his words. “I would not do anything hasty or that might add to their distress. Are there likely to be good doctors at this place?”