Melchior's Dream and Other Tales

al grief of heart,

s ofte

om the opposite wi

ance, how many of

might not seem eq

serving of

istian A

pleurisy, and had sent her to bed. He was just coming downstairs as Bill burst into the house. The mother was too much occupied about her daughter to notice the lad's condition; but the doctor's sharp eyes saw that something was amiss, and he at once inquired what it was. Bill

," said Bill

" suggested

, s

ad b

ll, desperately, "

fit of laughter, and looked

d, in a professional voice, as he took up hi

d see it," said Bill, half crying; "

ates dressed up in a table-cloth. It was all moonshine, depend upon it," said the doctor, wi

int the mo

d got any such fads in his head,

ere," he added, good-naturedly, slipping sixpence into Bill's hand, "get a new knife, my boy,

mehow his voice was choked, and

d is upset. Give him some supper, and put h

e angry; and occupied with real anxiety for her daughter, she soon forgot it herself. Consequently, the next night-s

gure by the door was not the Yew-lane Ghost, but his mother's faded print dress hanging on a nail, would drop his head and fall wearily asleep. The day was no better, for each hour brought him nearer to the next night school; and Bessy's illness made his mother so busy, that he never could find the right moment to ask her sympathy for his fears, and still less could he feel himself able to overcome them. And so the night-school came round again, and there he sat, gul

t and look for the grave with the odd verse of which Bessy had spoken. He had no difficulty in finding it.

TO TH

IM GA

ar when a voice

te for school

beheld Bully Tom standing in the r

?" he asked, as B

said Bill, wit

My eyes, won't your father give

would be a dirty trick. I'll go next time, I will indeed; I c

ut I wouldn't be in your shoes if you pla

not, tell a lie; and yet what would be the result of the truth coming out? There could be no doubt that his father would beat him. Bill thought again, and decided that he could bear a thrashing, but not the sight of the Yew-lane Ghost; so he remained where he was, wondering how it would be, and how he should get over the next school-night when it came. The prospect was so hopeless, and the poor lad so wearied with anxiety and wakeful nights, that he was almost asleep when he was startled by the church clock striking nine; and, jumping up, he r

r, and to sit in the kitchen and watch the cook, and wonder what she did with all the dishes and bright things that decorated the walls. To-day all was quite different. He avoided the gardens, he was afraid of being seen by his teacher, and though cook had an unusual

er-well yourself,

was very young and very good-natured; he had taken of late to coming to see Bessy, and Bill had his own ideas upon that point; finally, he had a small class at the night-school. Bill wondered whether if he screwed up hi

nt you, Willie!

grass under Master Arthur's very nose, so there was no getting a private interview with him. Secondly, Master Arthur himself, sitting on the ground wit

ll had been very anxious to see him. As, however, the clever young gentleman was lying on his back on the grass, with his hat flattened over his face to keep out the sun, and an open book lying on its face upon his waistcoat to keep the place, and otherwise

bout you. He'll put questions to you, I can tell you! There's as much difference between his head and mine, as between mine and the head of this stick." And Master Arthur flourished h

he had such a large prominent forehead that he looked as if he were bald. When he sat up, he suddenly screwed up his eyes in a very peculiar way, pulled out a double gold eye-glass, fixed it on his nose, and stared through it for a second; after which his eyes unexpectedly opened to their full extent (they were not small ones), and took a sharp survey of Bill over the top of his spectacles; and this ended, he lay back on hi

l last time, Willie? could

s,

e?" said Master Arthur,

he had stammered before the

Sir, I wa

d? Wha

y whisper. Mr. Bartram raised himself a

e! How is it you neve

I saw one th

sat bolt upright, and John Gardener stayed his machine and liste

he gardener, who was be

r, in the village," and then adde

take the machine and drive about the ga

d by the few words he caught at intervals of the conversation going on between John and the young gentlemen. What could it mean? Mr. Bartram seemed to have awakened to extraordinary energy, and was talking rapidly. Bill heard the words "

man's head off

of laughter from the party on the grass. When one is puzzled and out of spirits, it is no consolation to hear other people laughing over a private joke; moreover, Bill felt that if they were still on the subject of the murdered man and his ghost, their merriment was very unsuitable. Whatever was going on, it was qui

of a bully who

with a ghost, and began to think that this was a clever young gentleman, after all. J

aged to-night, and unable to take his class as usual; but this gentleman has kindly consented to fill his place ("Hear, hear," said the gentleman alluded to), and if you'll come to-night, like a good lad, he and I will walk back with you; so if

very much obliged to you, Sir, a

s best bow and retired. As he went he

want the things as soon as possible. You'd better ta

eft the grounds the laughter of the y

d it al