He went on straight round the house to the south-side door, whither everybody went to consult the doctor.

He knocked, and in a moment the door opened, and a young girl with weak blue eyes, with a helpless droop of the chin, and mouth half opened in a silly smile, looked out at him.

She was a girl whom Doctor Prescott had taken from the almshouse to assist in the lighter household duties.

She was considered rather weak in her intellect, though she did her work well enough when she had once learned how.
Jerome bent his head with a sudden stiff duck to this girl.

"Is Doctor Prescott at home ?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir," replied the girl, with the same respectful courtesy and ceremony with which she might have greeted the Squire or any town magnate, instead of this poor little boy.