“You will go by-and-by,” said the Lord Chancellor in a soothing voice. “Leave it to me, and I will arrange it all. But I’m afraid you three others will have to stay here a little longer. Lady Grace is Wax, you see, and the order for releasing Waxes has not yet been given. But it will be. You needn’t have the slightest doubt about that. Just have patience for a little; that’s all.”
“Well, I ain’t Wax,” said Wooden’s aunt. “I’m Wood, and proud of it. What’s the matter with me being let out?”
“Well,” said the Lord Chancellor, “the fact is that the King is still rather annoyed with you for thinking of such a thing as him marrying you.”
“I don’t think of it no more,” said Wooden’s aunt. “I don’t want to marry the old heathen image. You tell him that, Mr. Lawyer, with Wooden’s aunt’s comps.”
“Certainly, I will,” said the Lord Chancellor, with a polite bow. “It may make all the difference; there’s no telling.”
“Am I to stay in prison?” asked Wooden’s mother. “If so, I think it is very unfair. I’ve done nothing.”
“I hinted as much to his Majesty,” said the Lord Chancellor, “but he said two out at a time was enough. So I shouldn’t worry about it if I were you. You’ll be let out all in good time, and you are so comfortable here that it hardly makes any difference whether it’s sooner or later.”
“You keep on saying that like a Poll-parrot,” said Wooden’s aunt. “I’ve no patience with you. You go back and tell your master that if I ain’t let out of this in an hour’s time I’ll yell the place down. So there now!”
“I will be sure to convey your message, madam,” said the Lord Chancellor, as politely as before. “Now, I think we might make a start, eh?” He turned towards Emma, and his face became severe once more. “As for you, sir,” he said, “I shall have you dismissed from your post. You have given your keys to a prisoner. That is the most serious offence you could have committed.”
Poor Mr. Emma threw himself on his knees and held up his hands in supplication. “Oh, don’t dismiss me, your Honour,” he cried, “I’ve got a wife and a dear little baby, and you wouldn’t want them to starve, now would you? You’ve got a kind face; and a kind heart goes with it—I know it do. Don’t turn me off; please don’t.”