"Do you expect to come in for an estate some day, sir?" I said eagerly. "Bless your young innocence, yes. A piece of old mother earth, my boy, six foot long, and two foot wide. Just enough to bury me in." I understood him now, and a pang shot through me at the idea of another one who had been kind to me dying. He saw my look and nodded sadly. "Yes, my lad, perhaps I shall be dead and gone long before then." "Oh, sir, don't; it's so dreadful!" I said. "No, no, my boy," he said quietly; and he patted my shoulder, as he pressed the half-sovereign into my hand. "Not so dreadful as you think. It sounds very awful to you youngsters, with the world before you, and all hope and brightness; but some day, please God you live long enough, you'll begin to grow very tired, and then it will seem to you more like going to take a long rest. But there, there, we won't talk like that. Here, give me that money back?" I handed it to him, thinking that he had repented of what he had done, and he hastily rolled the other half-sovereign up, and re-tied his handkerchief. "Here," he said, "stop a minute, and don't shut the door. I shall soon be back." He hurried out, and in five minutes was back again to gaze at me smiling. "Stop a moment," he said, "I must get sixpence out of another pocket. I had to buy an ounce o' 'bacco so as to get change. Now, here you are-- hold out your hand." I held it out unwillingly, and he counted eight shillings and four sixpences into it. "That's ten," he said; "it's better for you so. Now you put some in one pocket and some in another, and tie some up just the same as I have, and put a couple of shillings anywhere else you can; and mind and never show your money, and never tell anybody how much you've got. And mind this, too, when anybody asks you to give him something to drink, take him to the pump. That's all. Stop. Don't lose that address. Gov'nor's not down, I s'pose?" "No, sir," I said. "All right then, I shan't stay. Good-bye, young un. When are you going?" "I'm not quite sure yet, sir." "No? Well, perhaps I shan't see you again. Jabez Rowle, mind you. Tell him all about yourself, mind, and--good-bye." He trotted off, but came back directly, holding out his hand. "God bless you, young un," he said huskily. "Good-bye." Before I could speak again, the door closed sharply, and I was alone. CHAPTER EIGHT. I TAKE A BOLD STEP.