He has come back."
"And he ain't dead nor drownded?"
"Neither one nor the other. He is alive and well."
Ketch gave a groan of despair. "And them horrid young wretches'll
escape the hangman! I'd ha' walked ten miles to see em--"
"Gracious, Sir John, what's that you are talking about?" interrupted
Bywater, as the choristers trooped up, "Escaped you! so we have, for
once. What an agony of disappointment it must be for you, Mr. Calcraft!
Such practice for your old hands, to topple off a dozen or so of us!
Besides the pay! How much do you charge a head, Calcraft?"
Ketch answered by a yell.
"Now, don't excite yourself, I beg," went on aggravating Bywater. "We
are thinking of getting up a petition to the dean, to console you for
your disappointment, praying that he'll allow you to wear a cap we have
ordered for you! It's made of scarlet cloth, with long ears and a set
of bells! Its device is a cross beam and a cord, and we wish you health
to wear it out! I say, let's wish Mr. Calcraft health! What's tripe a
pound to-day, Calcraft?"
The choristers, in various stages of delight, entered on their
aggravating shouts, their mocking dance. When they had driven Mr. Ketch
to the very verge of insanity, they decamped to the schoolroom.
I need not enlarge on the evening of thankfulness it was at Mr.
Channing's. Not one, but had special cause for gratitude--except,
perhaps, Annabel. Mr.
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