'Mary Ellen, remove that dumpling!' commanded Mrs. Handsomebody.
Angel and I began to eat very fast. There was a short silence; then Mrs. Handsomebody said didactically,—
'The elder Mr. Pegg is a much traveled gentleman, and one of the most noted archæologists of the day. A trifle eccentric in his manner, perhaps, but a deep thinker. David, can you tell me what an archæologist is?'
'Something you pretend you are,' said Angel, 'and you ain’t.'
'Nonsense!' snapped Mrs. Handsomebody. 'Look it up in your Johnson’s when you go upstairs, and let me know the result. I will excuse you now.'
We found The Seraph lounging in a chair in the schoolroom.
'Too bad about the dumpling, old boy,' I said consolingly.
'Oh, not too bad,' he replied. 'Mary Ellen fetched it up the back stairs to me. I’m vewy full.'
That afternoon we saw Captain Pegg go for a walk with his son and daughter-in-law. He looked quite altered in a long gray coat and tall hat. Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer Pegg seemed proud to walk with him.
The following day was warm and sunny. When lessons were over we rushed to our bedroom window, and to our joy we found that the window opposite was wide open, the wicker cage on the sill, with the starling inside swelling up and preening himself in the sunshine, while just beyond sat Captain Pegg smoking a long pipe.