He was closeted with Mr Witherden for some little time, and Mr Abel

had been called in to assist at the conference, before Kit, wondering

very much what he was wanted for, was summoned to attend them.

Christopher,' said the gentleman, turning to him directly he entered

the room, 'I have found your old master and young mistress.'

No, Sir! Have you, though?' returned Kit, his eyes sparkling with

delight. 'Where are they, Sir? How are they, Sir? Are they - are they

near here?'

A long way from here,' returned the gentleman, shaking his head.

But I am going away to-night to bring them back, and I want you to

go with me.'

'Me, Sir?' cried Kit, full of joy and surprise.

The place,' said the strange gentleman, turning thoughtfully to the

Notary, 'indicated by this man of the dogs, is - how far from here -

sixty miles?'

'From sixty to seventy.'

Humph! If we travel post all night, we shall reach there in good time

to-morrow morning. Now, the only question is, as they will not know

me, and the child, God bless her, would think that any stranger

pursuing them had a design upon her grandfather's liberty - can I do

better than take this lad, whom they both know and will readily

remember, as an assurance to them of my friendly intentions?'

Certainly not,' replied the Notary. 'Take Christopher by all means.'

I beg your pardon, Sir,' said Kit, who had listened to this discourse

with a lengthening countenance, 'but if that's the reason, I'm afraid I

should do more harm than good - Miss Nell, Sir, she knows me, and

would trust in me, I am sure; but old master - I don't know why,

gentlemen; nobody does - would not bear me in his sight after he had

been ill, and Miss Nell herself told me that I must not go near him or

let him see me any more. I should spoil all that you were doing if I

went, I'm afraid. I'd give the world to go, but you had better not take

me, Sir.'

Another difficulty!' cried the impetuous gentleman. 'Was ever man so

beset as I? Is there nobody else that knew them, nobody else in whom

they had any confidence? Solitary as their lives were, is there no one

person who would serve my purpose?'

'IS there, Christopher?' said the Notary.

The Old Curiosity Shop