"I am sure, whenever I can do you a service, you may reckon on me.
Meanwhile, if you could get that cursed bullying fellow who lives under
me to be a little more civil, you would oblige me."

"Under you? No. 7? No. 7, is it? Grabman, h-am I a man? Is this a h-
arm, and this a bunch of fives? I dares do all that does become a man;
but No. 7 is a body-snatcher! No. 7 has bullied me, and I bore it! No.
7 might whop me, and this h-arm would let him whop! He lives with graves
and churchyards and stiff 'uns, that damnable No. 7! Ask some'at else,
Grabman. I dares not touch No. 7 any more than the ghostesses."

Grabman sneered as he saw that Bill, stout rogue as he was, turned pale
while he spoke; but at that moment Bob reappeared with the clothes-brush,
which the ex-attorney thrust into his pocket, and shaking Bill by the
hand, and patting Bob on the head, he set out on his journey.

Bill reseated himself, muttering, "Bully a body-snatcher! Drot that
Grabman, does he want to get rid of poor Bill?"

Meanwhile Bob exhibited slyly, to his second brother, the sight of Beck's
stolen coral. The children took care not to show it to their father.
They were already inspired by the laudable ambition to set up in business
on their own account.




CHAPTER VIII.