“Er–r–err!” growled Andrew; “I haven’t patience with you, Franky. You’re too modest by half—modest as a great girl. No, you’re not; no girl could have behaved like you did. I only wish I had had the chance to be there. Ridiculous indeed! Very ridiculous to help your father to escape as you did, ’pon my honour. Oh yes, very ridiculous! I want to be as ridiculous as that every day of my life; and if it isn’t playing the man—”
“Yes, that’s it,” said Frank gloomily,—“playing the man, when one’s only a boy.”
“Bah! Hold your tongue, stupid. You don’t know yet what you did do. But, I say, that was ridiculous, if you like.”
“What was?” said Frank, starting.
“Climbing up the roof to hide the rope, and stuffing it down the next-door chimney. I say: I wonder what the people thought.”
Frank smiled now.
“Well, that does seem comic.”
“It was glorious. But they’ll never know. They’ll think the sweeps must have left it when the chimney was last swept. But I suppose you’ve heard about Lieutenant Brayley’s report?”
“No, not a word. I went as soon as I was dressed to see how my mother was.”
“Oh, I heard from Murray. He reported that it was a false alarm, and that Sir Robert could not have been there, for he had the house well watched back and front, and all the approaches to the houses adjoining. Oh, I do enjoy getting the better of the other side. And, I say, every one’s delighted that he escaped, if he was there; but I hope he won’t get taken. Tell him to mind, Franky, for every place swarms with spies, and that it’s next to impossible to get out of the country. Oh, I wouldn’t have him taken for all the world.”