Meanwhile Peter sat opposite, talking in a low tone to Dexter, and began to ask him questions about his adventures, listening with the greatest eagerness to the short answers he received, till Dexter looked up at him piteously.
“Don’t talk to me, please, Peter,” he said. “I want to sit and think.”
“And so you shall, my lad,” said the groom; and he too took out a pipe, and smoked till they reached Coleby.
Dexter shivered as he stepped out upon the platform. It seemed to him that the stationmaster and porters were staring at him as the boy who ran away, and he was looking round for a way of retreat, so as to escape what was to come, when Sir James and the doctor came up to them.
“You can let that boy go,” said the doctor to Dan’l.
“Let him go, sir?” cried the gardener, looking at both the gentlemen in turn.
Sir James nodded.
Bob, whose eyes had been rat-like in their eager peering from face to face, whisked himself free, darted to the end of the platform, and uttered a loud yell before he disappeared.
“Look here, Dexter,” said the doctor coldly; “I have been talking to Sir James on our way here. Now sir, will you give me your word not to try and escape?”
Dexter looked at him for a moment or two.