 that you should think me so, and do me
justice. You can't think what an interest I have in you. Why didn't you tell me
your little history - that about you and the poor old gentleman? I'm the best
adviser that ever was, and so interested in you - so much more interested than
Short. I think they're breaking up down stairs; you needn't tell Short, you
know, that we've had this little talk together. God bless you. Recollect the
friend. Codlin's the friend, not Short. Short's very well as far as he goes, but
the real friend is Codlin - not Short.«
    Eking out these professions with a number of benevolent and protecting looks
and great fervour of manner, Thomas Codlin stole away on tiptoe, leaving the
child in a state of extreme surprise. She was still ruminating upon his curious
behaviour, when the floor of the crazy stairs and landing cracked beneath the
tread of the other travellers who were passing to their beds. When they had all
passed, and the sound of their footsteps had died away, one of them returned,
and after a little hesitation and rustling in the passage, as if he were
doubtful what door to knock at, knocked at hers.
    »Yes,« said the child from within.
    »It's me - Short« - a voice called through the keyhole. »I only wanted to
say that we must be off early to-morrow morning, my dear, because unless we get
the start of the dogs and the conjurer, the villages won't be worth a penny.
You'll be sure to be stirring early and go with us? I'll call you.«
    The child answered in the affirmative, and returning his good night heard
him creep away. She felt some uneasiness at the anxiety of these men, increased
by the recollection of their whispering together down stairs and their slight
confusion when she awoke, nor was she quite free from a misgiving that they were
not the fittest companions she could have stumbled on. Her uneasiness, however,
was nothing, weighed against her fatigue; and she soon forgot it in sleep.
    Very early next morning, Short fulfilled his promise, and knocking softly at
her door, entreated that she would get up directly, as the proprietor of the
dogs was still snoring, and if they lost no time they might get a good deal in
advance both of him and the conjurer, who was talking in his sleep, and from
what he could be heard
