»Mr. Woodcourt pleases. Don't you be alarmed, if you hear shots;
they'll be aimed at the target, and not you. Now, there's another thing I would
recommend, sir,« says the trooper, turning to his visitor. »Phil, come here!«
    Phil bears down upon them, according to his usual tactics.
    »Here is a man, sir, who was found, when a baby, in the gutter.
Consequently, it is to be expected that he takes a natural interest in this poor
creature. You do, don't you, Phil?«
    »Certainly and surely I do, guv'ner,« is Phil's reply.
    »Now I was thinking, sir,« says Mr. George, in a martial sort of confidence,
as if he were giving his opinion in a council of war at a drum-head, »that if
this man was to take him to a bath, and was to lay out a few shillings in
getting him one or two coarse articles -«
    »Mr. George, my considerate friend,« returns Allan, taking out his purse,
»it is the very favour I would have asked.«
    Phil Squod and Jo are sent out immediately on this work of improvement. Miss
Flite, quite enraptured by her success, makes the best of her way to Court;
having great fears that otherwise her friend the Chancellor may be uneasy about
her, or may give the judgment she has so long expected, in her absence; and
observing »which you know, my dear physician, and general, after so many years,
would be too absurdly unfortunate!« Allan takes the opportunity of going out to
procure some restorative medicines; and obtaining them near at hand, soon
returns, to find the trooper walking up and down the gallery, and to fall into
step and walk with him.
    »I take it, sir,« says Mr. George, »that you know Miss Summerson pretty
well?«
    Yes, it appears.
    »Not related to her, sir?«
    No, it appears.
    »Excuse the apparent curiosity,« says Mr. George. »It seemed to me probable
that you might take more than a common interest in this poor creature, because
Miss Summer-son had taken that unfortunate interest in him. 'Tis my case, sir, I
assure you.«
    »And mine, Mr. George.«
    The trooper looks sideways at Allan's sunburnt cheek and bright dark eye,
rapidly measures his height and