As for the Doctor, he never alluded to the encounter again.
The week, then, had passed, and Mercer and I had nearly grown respectable again, when one night, as we were going to bed, my companion turned to me.
“I say,” he whispered, “let’s get up early to-morrow morning, and go and see old Lom.”
I shook my head.
“I’ve had lessons enough in boxing,” I said; “I don’t want to fight any more.”
“I didn’t mean a lesson,” said Mercer. “I want to go and tell him all about how we got on.”
I agreed that I should like to do that; and I awoke at sunrise, roused Mercer, and, leaving the other boys sleeping, we started for the lodge.
“Oh, I say, what a lovely morning!” cried Mercer. “Look at the dew on the leaves; it’s all colours like a rainbow. When are we going fishing again? and I want some birds to stuff; and to go rabbiting, and collecting, and all sorts, and we seem to have done nothing lately.”
“Hallo, Magglin!” I cried, as we turned a corner, and came suddenly upon that individual, looking as if he had just come from the big yard.
“Why, what are you doing here?” said Mercer.