“Go and share them, and say good-bye to them all,” said the doctor, drawing a breath full of satisfaction; and the boy darted away full of excitement.
“May I say a word to the boys, Mr Sibery?” said the doctor, smiling.
“Certainly, sir.”
“Will you call for silence?”
The master called, and the doctor asked the lads to give their old schoolfellow a cheer as he was going away.
They responded with a shout that made the windows rattle.
“And now,” said the doctor, “I’m going to ask Mr Hippetts to give you all a holiday, and I am leaving threepence a piece to be distributed among you, so that you may have a bit of fun.”
Mr Hippetts smiled as he took the money, and the boys cheered again, in the midst of which shouts the doctor moved off with his charge, but only for his protégé to break away from him, and run to offer his hand to Mr Sibery, who coughed slightly, and shook hands limply, as if he were conferring a great favour.
The boy then held out his hand to the master, and he also shook hands in a dignified way.
“Shall I send the boy on, sir?” said Mr Hippetts.