"Hilbert," said his father, in a very stern and threatening manner, "go to your mother directly."
"No," said Hilbert, in a sort of begging and whining tone. "No. If I do, she'll make me stay there all the afternoon."
"No matter for that," said his father; "go directly."
Hilbert did not move, but went on eating his dinner.
"At least," said his father, "you must go immediately when you have done your dinner."
Hilbert muttered something in reply, but Rollo did not hear what it was. In fact, he did not wish to hear any more of such a dialogue as this between a child and his father. So he went away. He was not at all inclined to go back to the lady and inform her what Hilbert had said; but he thought that he ought at least to go and tell her that he had found Hilbert, as he had been taught that it was always his duty to go back with a report when sent on a message. So he went back to the lady, and told her that he had found Hilbert, and that he was at dinner with his father.
"And what did he say about coming to me?" asked the lady.
"His father told him that he must come as soon as he had finished his dinner," replied Rollo.
"Very well," said the lady, "that will do."
So saying, she turned her head away and shut her eyes again, and so Rollo withdrew.