Before going home Dr. Warren paid several calls upon patients in the village, whilst his little nephew waited outside the houses in the gig, holding the reins; for the doctor was by no means fearful lest Firefly should become restive or run away. At last, however, Dr. Warren paid his last call for that morning, and drove homewards. As they drew up before the door of No. 8, Dick remarked—
"After all, Uncle Theophilus, I don't know what good it would be if I did find the secret passage."
"No good that I can see," the doctor agreed; "you might be better employed. Have you enjoyed our drive to-day?"
"Oh, very much, thank you!" Dick answered gratefully, as he clambered down from the gig. "I must go and find Aunt Mary Ann, and tell her I've seen the oldest man in the parish!"
[CHAPTER IX]
A SLIGHT ACCIDENT
ALTHOUGH Dick had decided that it would not benefit either him or any one else if he found the secret passage, yet he could not put the matter out of his mind. It fascinated him; and he thought of it the first moment he opened his eyes in the morning, and the last thing at night; it haunted him in his sleep, and more than once he awoke screaming and shaking with excitement after a vivid dream that he was being chased by smugglers armed with pistols and knives. On one of these occasions he shrieked so loudly that he awoke Miss Warren, who rushed to his room to see what was amiss. "Good patience, child!" she cried, as she bent over him. "What is wrong? Don't scream like that! Don't you know me? It's only Aunt Mary Ann!"
"Oh, oh!" gasped the little boy. "They're after me!"
"Nonsense! You're only half awake yet! Who's after you, pray? There's no one here but me! You've no real cause to be frightened!"
"I am very sorry," Dick said apologetically "I think I've had a bad dream!" and he shuddered at the remembrance of it.