"It's not very far from Cobham. But I don't live there."
"No, my dear. And where do you live, my lovey?"
The lady became more affectionate in her titles of endearment as she went on. Mr. Jenkins, leaning over the head of the bed, listened with all his ears; but on his countenance was a delighted grin.
"I live at Upton."
"Upton," said the lady, and glanced at Mr. Jenkins behind the bed. Mr. Jenkins winked at her.
"My father's a doctor; he keeps two horses and a carriage; everybody knows him there; he's the best doctor in the place."
"And is your mother alive, my dear?"
"I should rather think she was, and won't she go it when she knows I've run away!"
"Dear now, think of that! I shouldn't be surprised if she was very fond of you, my dear. And I daresay, now, she'd give a deal of money to any one who told her where you were."
"I should think she would. I daresay she'd give--I daresay she'd give----" he searched his imagination for the largest sum of which he could think; he desired to impress his audience with an idea of the family importance and wealth. "I daresay she'd give a thousand pounds." His hearers stared. "But she's not likely to know, for there's no one to tell her."