"I will walk with them. I must be off anyway, for the missis will be waiting dinner for me."
"Are we to pay, mother?"
"No, not till you have done, George. I dare say you will have to have your hands dressed several times."
"There won't be any occasion to pay him, Mrs. Andrews. The firm always pays the doctor in case of accidents, and you may be very sure that in this case they will be only too glad."
"Well, in any case, George," Mrs. Andrews said, "you can tell the doctor that you will pay when he says that you need not come to him again. If Mr. Penrose hears about it and chooses to pay I should not think of refusing, as you have been burned in his service; but certainly I should not assume that he will do so."
"Shall I go in with you, boys?" Bob asked when they reached the door. "I know the doctor; he attended me two years ago when I pretty nigh had my finger taken off by one of the cutters."
"Yes, please, Bob, I wish you would."
They were shown into the surgery, where the doctor soon joined them.
"I've brought these two young chaps for you to look at their hands, Dr. Maxwell. They got them burnt last night at the fire. Mrs. Andrews, the mother of this lad, wished me to say that she would pay the charges when you have done with them; but as if it hadn't been for them the works would have been burnt down as sure as you are standing there, I expect the firm will take the matter in their own hands."
"Yes, they are nasty burns," the doctor said, examining the boys' hands. "Can you open and shut them, boy?"