"How did you know I kept stuff in that corner cupboard?" "Because I looked," said the girl pertly. "Then I won't have you look in my cupboards. I--" "Why not?" said Dally calmly. "There, I know, gran'fa, most everything you've got. Now, tell me, what have you done with that bottle that you used to use for your eyes?" "Poured it away, and put the bottle in the fire." "Oh, gran'fa!" "My eyes are right enough now, and I didn't want to go some night in the dark--candles cost money, Dally--and take the wrong stuff. Doctor gives me some drops in a little bottle, and I shouldn't ha' liked to make a mistake." "And you've thrown it all away?" said the girl in a disappointed tone. "Ay, my gel. It was poison, only to use outside, and you wouldn't ha' liked your poor old gran'fa to make a mistake?" "Gone!" said Dally, to herself. "Now, you go to doctor and say your gran'fa wants him. Tell him I say it's all nonsense for him to be ill, and he must come." "Yes, gran'fa." "And you wait, Dally. I arn't an old man yet, but I shall be sure to die some day, and then there'll be a bit o' money for you." "I don't want your money, gran'fa," she said sourly, as the old man grinned and rubbed his hands. "That's right. Good gel. Be independent," he said. "Now go and tell doctor he must come." Dally did not stir, but stood gazing straight before her thoughtfully. "How much does it cost to go to London, gran'fa?" she said, at last, as the old man beat upon the arm of his chair to take her attention. "Heaps o' money--heaps o' money. What do you want to know for?" "Because I'm going there." "Going? What for?" "To find him and bring him back." "Whatcher talking about? You go and fetch doctor." "About Tom Candlish. I went to the Hall last night, and he was gone." "What, young squire? Well, you mustn't go after him, gel." "Yes, I must," said Dally, with a lurid look in her dark eyes. "I'm going after him to bring him back here, gran'fa. But are you sure you threw that stuff away?" "Ay, I'm sure enough. Now go and fetch doctor, I tell you; and ask him to give you some more of it if your eyes are bad. Now go." Dally nodded shortly, neither displaying, nor being expected to display, any affection for her grandfather, as she left the cottage; when the old man relit his pipe and sat back thinking as he smoked. "What does she want with that stuff?" he said thoughtfully; "'tis poison, and she knowed where it was. She wouldn't want to take none herself. She wouldn't do that; and she wouldn't want to give none to Tom Candlish, because that wouldn't make him marry her. I dessay she wants it--she wants it--to--" The old man's drowsy head had sunk back, his pipe-holding hand fell in his lap, and he slept heavily, to wake, after a few hours, cold and shivering, ready to creep to bed, murmuring against the doctor for not coming, and forgetting all about Dally and her desire to get that bottle which used to stand in the corner cupboard.