Now, Miss Hilliard could hardly be called an old maid, since she was only twenty-four, and was, besides, engaged to be married. In reality, Christopher loved her dearly, as he had good reason to do, but he did not like to say so, for fear Osric should laugh at him.
"I think she might let us go, anyhow," said he.
"I mean to go," said Osric, after looking round to see that nobody was near to listen to him, "I mean to go in spite of her, and so can you, if you like."
"You don't mean to run away from school, do you?" asked Christopher.
Osric nodded his head and screwed up his mouth.
"I know what I am going to do," said he. "I would tell you, only I am afraid you would run and tell David."
"I wouldn't, neither," returned Christopher, indignantly. "I don't tell David everything. Do tell me, Ozzy."
"I won't, unless you will promise to go with me."
Christy hesitated. He did very much want to see the grand funeral, but he did not quite like the idea of running away from school. Only that morning while listening to Miss Hilliard's remarks, he had resolved that he would always be a good boy, and try to do good like Miss Lilla. Running away from school would not be a very promising beginning, but then Osric wanted him to go, and perhaps would laugh at him, if he refused, and call him a baby.
"But how will you manage it?" he asked, at last. The question showed that he was not resisting firmly; but playing with the temptation.