CHAPTER VI.
AN OLD FOE WITH A NEW FACE.
"This child's head is dreadfully hot; and how yellow he does look!" says Mrs.Vavasour, fussing about in her little nursery.

"Oh, Clara, what shall I do?
I really dare not give them any more medicine myself; and that horrid old Doctor Heale is worse than no one." "Ah, ma'am," says Clara, who is privileged to bemoan herself, and to have sad confidences made to her, "if we were but in town now, to see Mr.Chilvers, or any one that could be trusted; but in this dreadful out-of-the-way place--" "Don't talk of it, Clara! Oh, what will become of the poor children ?" And Mrs.Vavasour sits down and cries, as she does three times at least every week.
"But indeed, ma'am, if you thought you could trust him, there is that new assistant--" "The man who was saved from the wreck?
Why, nobody knows who he is." "Oh, but indeed, ma'am, he is a very nice gentleman, I can say that; and so wonderfully clever; and has cured so many people already, they say, and got down a lot of new medicines (for he has great friends among the doctors in town), and such a wonderful magnifying glass, with which he showed me himself, as I dropped into the shop promiscuous, such horrible things, ma'am, in a drop of water, that I haven't dared hardly to wash my face since." "And what good will the magnifying glass do to us ?" says the poor little Irish soul, laughing up through its tears.

"He won't want it to see how ill poor Frederick is, I'm sure; but you may send for him, Clara." "I'll go myself, ma'am, and make sure," says Clara; glad enough of a run, and chance of a chat with the young Doctor.
And in half an hour Mr.Thurnall is announced.
Though Mrs.Vavasour has a flannel apron on (for she will wash the children herself, in spite of Elsley's grumblings), Tom sees that she is a lady; and puts on, accordingly, his very best manner, which, as his experience has long since taught him, is no manner at all.
He does his work quietly and kindly, and bows himself out.
"You will be sure to send the medicine immediately, Mr.Thurnall." "I will bring it myself, madam; and, if you like, administer it.
I think the young gentleman has made friends with me sufficiently already." Tom keeps his word, and is back, and away again to his shop, in a marvellously short space, having "struck a fresh root," as he calls it; for-- "What a very well-behaved sensible man that Mr.Thurnall is," says Lucia to Elsley, an hour after, as she meets him coming in from the garden, where he has been polishing his "Wreck." "I am sure he understands his business; he was so kind and quiet, and yet so ready, and seemed to know all the child's symptoms beforehand, in such a strange way.

I do hope he'll stay here.

I feel happier about the poor children than I have for a long time." "Thurnall ?" asks Elsley, who is too absorbed in the "Wreck" to ask after the children; but the name catches his ear.
"Mr.Heale's new assistant--the man who was wrecked," answers she, too absorbed, in her turn, in the children to notice her husband's startled face.
"Thurnall?
Which Thurnall ?" "Do you know the name?
It's not a common one," says she, moving to the door.
"No--not a common one at all! You said the children were not well ?"! "I am glad that you thought of asking after the poor things." "Why, really, my dear--" But before he can finish his excuse (probably not worth hearing), she has trotted up-stairs again to the nest, and is as busy as ever.