Bessie was quick to notice this. "Dear Mrs. Colston," she exclaimed, "you have some bad news to tell me! What is it?--Do tell me quickly!" "The customer was Ralph Waring." "Ralph Waring! And does the Little Missis know--did she see him?" and Bessie started up from her chair in her excitement. "No; I want your advice. Reynolds has found out that he is lodging at 63 Dutton Street. Just fancy that!" "63 Dutton Street!" repeated Bessie, quite bewildered. "Yes; with Mrs. Coates. You know Mrs. Coates. Do you think I ought to tell her?" "Tell Mrs. Coates?" "No--the Little Missis, as you call her." "Of course not. If his lordship does not choose to make himself known, why should you trouble her about him? She has had enough trouble with him already--at least, I think so." "That is just how I have been thinking." "Oh, dear, dear! Whatever in the world did he need to turn up again for! I wish to goodness I could run away with him, that I do!" "What is that you are saying?" exclaimed David, looking in from the shop, with quite a dramatic expression on his face. "Who is it you are wanting to elope with now? I really must know!" Amid both laughter and tears Nanna explained the situation. "Well, if she can manage to run away with him," said David magnanimously, "I am quite willing. But how can you work it, my sweet queen Bess?" "Ah, that's the difficulty," she sighed. "I shall have to put my thinking cap on." "There is no doubt he is very ill," said pitying Nanna; "he has a dreadful cough." "A consumptive cough?" asked David. "Yes." "Then may God help him! I know what that means. My father died of consumption in Warley Hospital." "I have it!" exclaimed Bessie, "let's get him into Warley Hospital! At least he would be some distance away, and would be better treated than in lodgings. Oh, yes, I'll manage to run away with him after all, you see if I don't! I'll call and see Mrs. Coates, and if I hear her lodger cough, I'll offer to get him an indoor letter for Warley Hospital. I'll not show myself at all, of course. Mrs. Coates shall do the real elopement work; I'll only superintend." CHAPTER XXVI THE HOME-COMING True to her word Bessie paid her visit to Mrs. Coates the next day. She had not been long in the house before the hollow cough was heard. "Good gracious!" exclaimed Bessie; though really listening for it, the sound had quite startled her. "What a dreadful cough!" "That it is. It's our lodger, poor fellow! I'm afraid he's not long for this world." "What is his name?" "Richard Wood." "H'm." If Mrs. Coates had been at all a sharp sort of woman she might have detected something peculiar in that expression. "I'm afraid he's very poor," continued Mrs. Coates. "He's paid me all right, but I don't think he's much left. I took him up some hot supper last night, and my! didn't he eat it up ravenously!" "Has he any friends?" "Doesn't seem to have any." "The best thing he could do would be to get into a hospital."