Mat and Tim were then introduced to the aide-de-camp, Captain Marvin, who led them into the smoking-room, and, having made them comfortable in easy chairs, said,—
“You must not be afraid that I am going to cross-examine you, but I may as well tell you at once that a rather delicate affair has been deputed to me to propose to you, and that is, to plunge at once into matters, you are requested by every one—by the voice of the people—to appear, one night, with your two natives, at the School of Arts, and give a short account of your adventures in the unknown northern country.
“I know that you will be well received. They do not want to stare at you as if you were newly-caught savages, but to listen and to learn; and my impression is that, if you choose to appear, it will save you a world of worrying questions in the future, besides, it will be a kind act, as the door-money will go to a very deserving charity, which I shall be glad to tell you all about.”
“We will think it over,” said Mat when Marvin had finished speaking. “Meantime, we have some old books, in which we have written a rough diary, and when you began speaking it seemed to me that perhaps the people would like to have it published, instead of our lecturing to them.”
“May I glance at the diary? I promise not to divulge a word.”
“Certainly, you are welcome; there are no secrets.”
So Mat fetched the old novels, with their closely pencilled margins, gave them to Marvin, and then sauntered into the garden with Tim to discuss the question of the lecture.
“I shan’t speak,” said Tim, as soon as they were by themselves, “but you can tell them a few things straight, and they’ll be pleased enough. For all Marvin says, I’ll bet they do want to have a good look at us; it’s natural enough, too, and ’twont hurt us.”
“I’ll try, then,” said Mat; “and if I break down, they can still stare—that’s all.”
In the evening, “our lads,” as we may, perhaps, still be permitted to call them, for old associations’ sake, were introduced to Mrs. Marvin, who told them that she had already made the acquaintance of the native girl, who had come to the house for something to drink.