"No, I must have left it upstairs."
She whisked out and closed the door with a bang, the very opposite of
the way in which she had opened it, and said to herself triumphantly--
"There, I knew he was doing of something wrong, and if I don't find him
out, my name ain't Maria."
Dexter hurriedly finished his packet, laying the money in it again after
further consideration--in and out amongst the paper, so that the money
should not chink, and then placing it in the enclosure with the letter,
he tied it up with a piece of the red tape the doctor kept in a little
drawer, sealed it, and directed it in his plainest hand to Sir James
Danby.
Dexter felt better after this was done, and the jacket-pocket a little
bulgy in which his missive was stuffed. He had previously felt a little
uneasy about the boat; but though not quite at rest now, he felt better
satisfied, and as if this was a duty done.
That same evening, just before it grew dusk, Dexter watched his
opportunity, and stole off down the garden, after making sure that he
was not watched.
There was no one visible on the other side, and it seemed as if Bob
Dimsted was not coming, so after waiting a few minutes Dexter was about
to go back to the house, with the intention of visiting his pets, when
there was a loud chirping whistle from across the river.
Dexter looked sharply through the gathering gloom; but still no one was
visible, and then the chirp came again.
"Are you there, Bob?"
"Why, course I am," said that young gentleman, rising up from where he
had lain flat behind a patch of coarse herbage. "I'm not the sort of
chap to stay away when I says I'll come. Nearly ready!"
"Ye-es," said Dexter.
"No gammon, you know," said Bob. "I mean it, so no shirking out."
"I mean to come too," said Dexter with a sigh.
"Well, you do sound jolly cheerful; you don't know what a game it's
going to be."
"No, not quite--yet," said Dexter. "But how are we going to manage!"
"Well, if ever!" exclaimed Bob. "You are a rum chap, and no mistake.
Of course we shall take the boat, and I've got that table-cloth ready
for a sail, and a bit of rope to hoist it up."
Dexter winced about that table-cloth, one which he had borrowed at Bob's
wish from the housekeeper's room.
"But must we take that boat?"
"Why, of course, but we shall send it back some day as good as new,
hanging behind a ship, and then have it sent up the river. I know lots
of fellows who'll put it back for me if I ask 'em."
Dexter felt a little better satisfied, and then listened to his
companion's plans, which were very simple, but effective all the same,
though common honesty did not come in.
The conversation was carried on across the river, and to ensure its not
being heard, Dexter lay down on the grass and put his lips close to the
water, Bob Dimsted doing the same, when, it being quite a still evening,
conversation became easy.
"What are your people doing now?" said Bob, after they had been talking
some time.
"Dr Grayson is writing, and Miss Grayson reading."
"Why, we might go now--easy."
"No," said Dexter. "If we did, it would be found out directly, and we
should be fetched back, and then, I dare say, they'd send me again to
the school."
"And yer don't want to go there again, do you!"
"No," said Dexter, with a shudder. "Don't forget the ball of string I
told you about?"
"No, I've got that," replied Bob sharply. "And p'r'aps that won't be
long enough. It's very deep in the sea. Now mind, you're here."
"Yes, I'll mind."
"If yer don't come, I won't never forgive you for making a fool of me."
"I won't do that," said Dexter; and then after a little more hesitation
as to something he particularly wanted to do, and which he saw no other
way of doing, he whispered--
"Bob!"
"Hullo!"
"Will you do something for me before you come!"
"Yes, if I can. But I say, don't you forget to bring a big bundle of
your clothes and things, and if you don't want 'em all, I can wear some
of 'em."
Dexter was silent.
"And as much money as you can; and, I say, the old un never give you a
watch, did he?"
"No."
"You wouldn't like to borrow his, would you!"
"No, of course not," said Dexter indignantly.
"Oh, I don't want you to, unless you like. Only watches is useful at
sea. Sailors find out where they are by their watches. I don't quite
know how, but we could soon find out. Whatcher want me to do!"
"I want you to take a little parcel to Sir James Danby's."
"I ain't going to carry no parcels," said Bob importantly.
"It's only a very little one, as big as your hand. You know the
letter-box in Sir James's big door!"
"I should just think I do," said Bob, with a hoarse laugh. "Me and two
more boys put a lighted cracker in last fift' o' November."
"I want you to go there last thing," said Dexter, as he could not help
wondering whether the cracker made a great deal of noise in the
letter-box; "and to drop the packet in just as if it was a letter. I
mean just before you come."
"But what for?"
"Because it must be taken there. I want it taken."
"O very well. Where is it?"
"Here," said Dexter, taking out his carefully tied and sealed packet.
"Chuck it across."
"Get up, then, and be ready to catch it."
"All right! Now then, shy away."
Dexter drew back from the river, and aiming carefully at where he could
see Bob's dim figure, he measured the distance with his eye, and threw.
_Slap_!
"Got it!" cried Bob. And then, "Oh!"
There was a splash.
"Just kitched on the top o' my finger, and bounced off," whispered the
boy excitedly.
"O Bob, what have you done!"
"Well, I couldn't help it. I ain't a howl.--How could I see in the
dark!"
"Can't you see where it fell in!"
"Why, ain't I a-trying. Don't be in such a fuss."
Dexter felt as if their expedition was at an end, and he stood listening
with a breast full of despair as Bob lay down at the edge of the river,
and rolling up his sleeve began feeling about in the shallow water.
"It's no good," he said. "It's gone."
"O Bob!"
"Well, what's the good of `O Bobbing' a fellow? I couldn't help it.
It's gone, and--Here: I got it!"
Bob rose up and gave his arm a whirl to drive off some of the moisture.
"It's all right," he said. "I'll wrap it in my hankychy, and it'll soon
dry in my pocket, I say, what's inside?"
"Something for Sir James."
"Oh! S'pose you don't know!"
"Is the paper undone?" said Dexter anxiously.
"No, it's all right, I tell yer, and it'll soon get dry."
"And you'll be sure and take it to Sir James's."
"Now?"
"No, no, last thing to-night, just before you come, and don't ring, only
drop the thing in the letter-box."
"All right. Didn't I get my arm wet! There, I'm going home to get it
dry, and put the rest of my things ready. Mind you bring yours all
right."
Dexter did not answer, but his companion's words made him feel very
low-spirited, for he had a good deal in his mind, and he stood listening
to Bob, as that young worthy went off, whistling softly, to make his
final preparations for the journey down the river to sea, and then to
foreign lands, and the attempt seemed now to begin growing very rapidly,
till it was like a dense dark cloud rising higher and higher, and
something seemed to keep asking the boy whether he was doing right.
He felt that he was not, but, at the same time, the idea that he was
thoroughly misunderstood, and that he would never be happy at the
doctor's, came back as strongly as ever.
"They all look upon me as a workhouse boy," he muttered, "and Bob's
right. I'd better go away."