"Has he been bathing with his clothes on?" Sir Richard asked. "Why, here's Nero!" he continued, without waiting for a reply to his question. "He deserted me an hour ago! Where have you been, you bad dog?"
"He has been with Dick for the last hour," Miss Warren explained.
"Did he lead you into mischief, Dick?" Sir Richard questioned. "He loves the water, I know."
"It was not Nero's fault," the little boy declared. "I fell into a pool; that's how it is I happen to be so wet. It was very careless of me; but really I couldn't help it!"
"I shall not mind if he does not take cold," Miss Warren said, looking relentingly at the offender's abashed countenance. "You will excuse us, Sir Richard—Dick must get home as quickly as possible."
"Certainly, certainly. Good-morning, Miss Warren! Good-morning, Dick! Come with me, Nero!"
The dog followed his master obediently, now and again pausing a moment to look wistfully after Dick's retreating figure.
As soon as Miss Warren and her little nephew reached home, she insisted on putting him to bed—not for punishment, as she explained, for she had regained her good-humour, and had accepted Dick's apologies—but because she considered such treatment would prevent his feeling any ill effects from his accident.
So Dick lay patiently in bed with the blinds of his room drawn to exclude the brilliant sunshine, and with his aunt by his side refusing to talk, for fear, as she said, of unduly exciting him after the shock she persisted he must be suffering from on account of his unexpected ducking. In vain did Dick protest he felt quite well; he had to remain in bed till the doctor returned, when he was permitted to get up and come downstairs for tea. Seeing Aunt Mary Ann was vexed no longer, he was perfectly willing to give an account of his morning's adventure, and owned that he had been so intent in searching for the entrance to the secret passage that he had forgotten the flight of time.
"I quite forgot I had promised not to go out of sight," he said in conclusion with a deprecating glance at Miss Warren.