look otherwise than nasty, dirty black), and how he’d be hung for mutiny if ever he were caught, and how a hundred pound reward had been offered for catching him, and what a disgrace he had been to his family—­all to spite me, you see, my dear, because before now I’ve helped old Mr. Leonards to give George a good rating, down in Southampton.  So I said, there were other families be thankful if they could think they were earning an honest living as I knew, who had far more cause to blush for their sons, and to far away from home.  To which he made answer, like the impudent chap he is, that he were in a confidential situation, and if I knew of any young man who had been so unfortunate as to lead vicious courses, and wanted to turn steady, he’d have no objection to lend him his patronage.  He, indeed!  Why, he’d corrupt a sairt.  I’ve not felt so bad myself for years as when I were standing talking to him the other day.  I could have cried to think I couldn’t spite him better, for he kept smiling in my face, as if he took all my compliments for earnest; and I couldn’t see that he minded what I said in the least, while I was mad with all his speeches.’

‘But you did not tell him anything about us—­about Frederick?’

‘Not I,’ said Dixon.  ’He had never the grace to ask where I was staying; and I shouldn’t have told him if he had asked.  Nor did I ask him what his precious situation was.  He was waiting for a bus, and just then it drove up, and he hailed it.  But, to plague me to the last, he turned back before he got in, and said, “If you can help me to trap Lieutenant Hale, Miss Dixon, we’ll go partners in the reward.  I know you’d like to be my partner, now wouldn’t you?  Don’t be shy, but say yes.”  And he jumped on the bus, and I saw his ugly face leering at me with a wicked smile to think how he’d had the last word of plaguing.’

Margaret was made very uncomfortable by this account of Dixon’s.

‘Have you told Frederick?’ asked she.

‘No,’ said Dixon.  ’I were uneasy in my mind at knowing that bad Leonards was in town; but there was so much else to think about that I did not dwell on it at all.  But when I saw master sitting so stiff, and with his eyes so glazed and sad, I thought it might rouse him to have to think of Master Frederick’s safety a bit.  So I told him all, though I blushed to say how a young man had been speaking to me.  And it has done master good.  And if we’re to keep Master Frederick in hiding, he would have to go, poor fellow, before Mr. Bell came.’

’Oh, I’m not afraid of Mr. Bell; but I am afraid of this Leonards.  I must tell Frederick.  What did Leonards look like?’

’A bad-looking fellow, I can assure you, miss.  Whiskers such as I should be ashamed to wear—­they are so red.  And for all he said he’d got a confidential situation, he was dressed in fustian just like a working-man.’