"We'll do it as it is, Dick. It's made mother unhappy--oh, so unhappy! The worst of it is"--she paused, and with a grave look added, "Dr. Vinsen. What does he mean by speaking against you?" "Passes my comprehension, Gracie. There's no love lost between us, that's clear. It is a case of mutual antipathy. But I don't want to do him an injustice. He has been very kind to you." "Yes," she said. "I wonder why." "Ah, I wonder." "I tried to get in at the inquest to-day, but couldn't get near the door. Was he there?" "I did not see him. His friend was." "His friend?" she queried. "Dr. Pye, and he made it hot for us." "What did he say, Dick, what did he say?" "Too long to tell you now; you'll hear all about it by and by." "Give me a ha'penny to buy a paper, Dick, will you?" "Here's a penny. So, Dr. Vinsen speaks against me?" "Yes, and smiles and pats me when I stick up for you. He ain't angry, you know; he speaks as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. 'You'll know better, my child,' he says, 'before you are much older, and then you'll stick up for me.' He'll have to wait a long time for that. Mother's wild with me because I don't like him, but I can't, I can't! I feel sometimes as if I could stick a knife in him. I'm sure he'd do you a mischief if he could, so just you take care of him, Dick." "I will; and I dare say I shall be a match for him in the end. We've talked enough about him, Gracie, my girl. Now we'll get back to the house, and I'll take you to your mother, who is fretting her heart out about you." "I'd sooner go by myself, Dick, and I'll tell her you found me and sent me home." "That will do as well. I know you will not break a promise you give me." "Never, Dick, never! I'd die first!" They returned to the house the way they came, and she lifted her face to his. "Kiss me, Dick," she said. He kissed gladness into her, and they parted at Samuel Boyd's street door. CHAPTER XL. THE SPECTRE IN THE FLASH-LIGHT.