As soon as Sir James could recover his breath, taken away in his astonishment, he began to shout—
“Stop, sir! Do you hear? How dare you?”
If a hundred Sir Jameses had been shouting it would not have stayed Dexter, for he had only one idea in his head just then, and that was to get away.
“Put down Master Edgar, and go and fetch that boy back.”
“Carefully! Oh, pray, put him down carefully,” cried Lady Danby passionately.
Just then Master Edgar uttered a fresh cry, and his mother wailed loudly.
“No, never mind,” cried Sir James, “carry him up to the house; I will fetch that young rascal.”
He strode off angrily, evidently believing in his own mind that he really was going to fetch Dexter back; but by that time the boy had reached the house, ran round by the side, dashed down the main street, and was soon after approaching the bridge over the river, beyond which lay the Union and the schools.