He touched Captain Corbet’s shoulder, and tried to push him gently aside, so as to pass.
Captain Corbet’s hand, which had been removing the coverings, fell slowly to his side. His face turned up and confronted Mr. Long’s with an expression of utter bewilderment, as though the language which he had heard was perfectly incomprehensible. His lips moved, but no sound escaped.
“You’ll have to excuse me,” said Mr. Long, kindly. “I’m in a great hurry. Will you allow me to pass?”
Mechanically Captain Corbet moved to one side. Mr. Long hurried out. He descended the stairs; he walked rapidly out of the Academy, and down into the village, and far, far away.
Captain Corbet stood at the doorway looking at vacancy. At length he turned. There was a certain blank amazement in his face, as though he could not yet understand what had happened.
“He said he was in a hurry!” he murmured. “He’s gone! actilly—an raelly—and terewly—gone—an sech a chance! Why, it’ll-never come agin, may be. An he’s ben an missed it—lost it—? actilly therrown it away! Boys,” he continued, after a pause, in a hollow voice, “am I a dereamin?”
“O, no, captain,” said Bart, cheerily. “You’re wide awake. Come in and sit down.”
The captain shook his head.
“Pinch me!” said he, in the same tragic tone.
No one obeyed.