"Have you got it?—have you got it, Mattie?"
"No—I ain't got nothin'."
"'Cept a fever, Master Sidney—tell your father to look out."
A thin, large-veined hand protruded from the door, and dragged Master Hinchford suddenly backwards into the room; a tall, military-looking old gentleman, with white hair and white moustache, the instant afterwards occupied the place, and looked down sternly at the small intruder.
"Keep where you are—I didn't know you had a fever, girl. Ann Packet, put the light on the bracket. That will do."
Ann Packet set the chamber candlestick on a little bracket outside the drawing-room, drew her clothes tightly round her limbs, and keeping close to the wall, scuttled past the girl, whom fever had sorely stricken lately. Mattie dropped on to the stairs, placed her elbows on her knees, took her chin between her claw-like hands, and stared up at Mr. Hinchford.
"I don't think you can catch anythin' from me, guv'nor."
Governor looked down at Mattie, and reddened a little.
"I'm not afraid of fever—it's only the boy I'm thinking about. Sidney," he called.
"Yes, pa."