comfortable. Not that he wants much, being out pretty much all day."

"What is he busy about of nights?"

"Larning," said Jem, with an awed look. "He's terrible wise. But
for all that, sometimes he'll teach Charley and me a bit o' the
Readamadeasy." (Reading-made-easy, I suppose, John's hopeful pupil
meant.) "He's very kind to we, and to mother too. Her says, that
her do, Mr. Halifax--"

"Send the fellow away, Phineas," muttered my father, turning his face
to the wall.

I obeyed. But first I asked, in a whisper, if Jem had any idea when
"Mr. Halifax" would be back?

"He said, maybe not till morning. Them's bad folk about. He was
going to stop all night, either at your house or at the tan-yard, for
fear of a BLAZE."

The word made my father start; for in these times well we knew what
poor folk meant by "a blaze."

"My house--my tan-yard--I must get up this instant--help me. He
ought to come back--that lad Halifax. There's a score of my men at
hand--Wilkes, and Johnson, and Jacob Baines--I say, Phineas--but thee
know'st nothing."

He tried to dress, and to drag on his heavy shoes; but fell back,
sick with exhaustion and pain. I made him lie down again on the bed.