Well, as I was a saying, no sooner do I begin telling
him a little nannygoat--no, I mean anecdote, than off he is like a
shot." Minna smiled to herself, and she was far from wondering that the colonel
was off like a shot, for well she knew, that when Mrs. Ragg did begin
anything concerning the late Mr. Ragg, it usually lasted three quarters
of an hour at the very least. "Minna, Minna!" called Tobias. "I am here, Tobias." In another moment she was in the room. Truly it was a pleasant thing to
see the face of Tobias, when, his sunshine, as he called Minna, came
close to him, and in her soft voice asked him if he was better. "Don't mind me," said Mrs. Ragg, "I am going to darn a stocking or two. that's all. Just say what you both like. Young folks will be young
folks. Bless me, I recollect just as if it were only yesterday, when I
used to speak to poor departed Mr. Ragg, who is, premature, dead and
gone, in a manner of speaking. Ah, dear me! How the world goes round and
round--round and round, continually." Tobias and Minna were so well accustomed to the garrulity of Mrs. Ragg,
and so well aware that she required no answer, that they let her talk
on, and did not mind her, as she requested they would not; and so the
evening grew apace, and the light gradually began to wane, as those two
young loving hearts spoke together of the future, and indulged in that
day dream of happiness which can only belong to youth and love. *       *       *       *       *

Todd is skulking round the angle of the garden wall, from which he can
get a view of the colonel's house, and yet not be seen himself. The more he looked the more the desire grew upon him, notwithstanding
the immense risk he ran of personal detection, by so doing, to get into
the house, and finish the career of poor Tobias. He would have had no
particular objection rather to have taken the life of Mrs. Ragg, if it
could be easily and comfortably done. It has been said that there are folks in the world who never forgive any
one for doing them a kindness; and such paradoxical views of human
nature have been attempted to be laid down as truths; but whether this
be so or not, is still to be proved, although it is certain that nothing
stirs the evil passions of men who will inflict injury upon the
innocent, as to find themselves baffled in their villany. From that
moment the matter becomes a personal affair of vengeance. Hence, since Todd had become thoroughly aware that Tobias had escaped
from the death he had intended for him at the mad-house, his rage
against the boy knew no bounds. Indeed, the reader will conclude that it must have been a feeling of no
ordinary strength, that, at such a busy and ticklish time, would take
Todd to the colonel's house at all. It was revenge--bitter, uncompromising revenge! Now, you must know the colonel's house was one of those half-villa,
half-mansion-like residences, that are so common in the neighbourhood of
London. There was a kind of terrace in the front, and a garden with
flowering shrubs, that had a pretty enough appearance, and which at
night afforded abundance of shelter. It was by this front garden that Todd hoped to reach the house. When it was nearly dark, he slunk in, crouching down among the trees and
shrubs, and crawling along like a serpent as he was. He soon came to a
flight of stone steps that led to the kitchens. By the time Todd had got thus far, some of her domestic duties had
called Mrs. Ragg to the lower part of the house. He saw by the
fire-light that some one was going about the kitchen, close to the foot
of the stone steps; but he could not exactly, by that dim and uncertain
radiance, take upon himself to say that it was Mrs. Ragg. She soon lit a candle, though, and then all was clear. He saw the good
lady preparing divers lights for the upper rooms. While Todd was half-way down the stone steps, peeping into the kitchen,
one of the other servants of the house came into that receptacle for
culinary articles, and commenced putting on a bonnet and shawl. Todd
could not hear one word of what was said by Mrs. Ragg and this young
woman who was getting ready to go out; but he saw them talk, and by
their manner he felt convinced that it was only upon ordinary topics. If the young woman left the house by the steps upon which Todd was, and
which it was more than likely she would do, his situation would be
anything but a pleasant one, and discovery would be certain. To obviate the chance of this, he stepped back, and crouched down in
among the shrubs in the garden. He was not wrong in his conjectures, for in a few moments the servant,
who was going out, ascended the steps, and passed him so closely, that
by stretching out his hand, he could, if he had been so minded, have
touched her dress. In a short time she was out of ear-shot. Todd emerged from his concealment again, and crept down the steps, and
once more peeped into the kitchen. Mrs. Ragg was still busy with the candles. He was just considering what he should do, when he heard the tramp of
horses' feet in the road above. He ascended sufficient of the steps to
enable himself to get a peep at what was going on. He saw a groom well
mounted, and leading another horse. Then no other than Colonel Jeffrey
himself, although he did not of his own knowledge, feel assured that it
was him, come out at the front door of the house and mounted. "Now, William," said the colonel, "we must ride sharply." "Yes, sir," said the groom. Another moment and they were gone. "This is lucky," said Todd. "It is not likely that there is any other
room in the house; and if not, I have the game in my own hands." He crept down the remainder of the stone steps, and placed his ear quite
close to the kitchen window. Mrs. Ragg was enjoying a little conversation to herself. "Ah!" she said, "it's always the way--girls will be girls; but what I
blame her for is, that she don't ask the colonel's leave at once, and
say--'Sir, your _disorderly_ has won my _infections_, and may he come
here and take a cup of tea?'" This was Greek to Todd. "What is the old fool talking about," he muttered. "But I will soon give
her a subject that will last for her life." He now arrived at the door of the kitchen. It was very unlikely to be
locked or otherwise fastened, so immediately after the young woman, who
had left the house, and passed so close to him, Todd. Yet he listened
for a few moments more, as Mrs. Ragg kept making observations to
herself. "Listeners hear no good of themselves, says the proverb, and at all
events it was verified in this instance." "_Lor' a mussy_," ejaculated Mrs. Ragg, "how my mind do run upon that
horrid old ugly monster of a Todd to day. Well, I do hope I shall never
look upon his frightful face again, and how awful he did squint, too. Dear me, what did the colonel say he had with his vision--could it be--a
something _afixity_? No that isn't it." "Obliquity!" said Todd, popping his head in at the kitchen door.