“Mebbe it’s all right,” he said; “but it don’t seem so. Nobody’s called me ‘dear’ for a long time. Why, I’m an old wreck. It’s too much!”
“You are my uncle,” said the girl.
“Well, you’d be better off if I wasn’t. Help me up, somebody. I must go. I can’t stay here. I must have a drink! Won’t you help me up?”
“You had better keep still,” said Frank.
“No; I must get up—I will!”
He rolled off the bed and tried to stand on his feet, but would have fallen sprawling had not Merry caught him.
“All gone—strength all gone!” moaned the engineer, as he was restored to the bed. “It’s sure I’m goin’ to die now!”
“You shall stay here till you have recovered,” said little Nell. “I will take care of you, dear uncle.”
“Why is she so kind to me? Why is anybody so kind to me? I don’t deserve anything.”
“All I have to say,” observed Frank, “is that hanging will be too good for you if you harm one of these children after this!”