"Where is he? Where is he?" cried he, in a thick whisper.
Carrie's face grew dark.
"Here is your friend," she cried cheerily, "here is Mr. Wedmore. He's going with you; he's not going to leave you; be sure of that."
"Yes, old chap, I'm going with you," said Max, hurrying forward and trying to shut out the view of the room with his person as he knelt down by his friend.
Dudley frowned impatiently.
"You, Max!" said he. "What are you doing here?"
But he asked the question without interest, evidently absorbed in another subject.
"I'm going to take you down to The Beeches," answered Max, promptly.
To his infinite satisfaction, this reply had the effect of distracting Dudley's thoughts. Into his pallid face there came a tinge of color, as he looked intently into his friend's eyes, and repeated:
"The Beeches! You don't mean that!"