The people who had gathered around us began to laugh and enjoy the scene, and, being mostly Middleporters, they had no particular sympathy for the colonel.
“Wolf, we shall meet again,” said the great man, sullenly, as he turned upon his heel, and, followed by his companions, walked rapidly down to the wharf, where his boat lay.
Even while I knew his power, and felt that he could annoy our family, and perhaps ruin us, I was quite ready to meet him again. Waddie’s indiscretions stood between me and his wrath for the present, but his time might come. I leaped into the engine-room of the dummy, where Miss Toppleton had stood listening to our conversation.
“Mr. Wolf, I think you are real smart,” said she, with a sweet smile of approbation.
“I thank you, Miss Toppleton, for your good opinion. Colonel Wimpleton is very hard upon me just now.”
“I heard father tell about it. I think that Colonel Wimpleton is a real wicked man; and I only wonder that he and father were good friends for so many years.”
“I am all ready to start now,” I added. “I wish I had better accommodations for you.”
“Oh, this is very nice!” exclaimed she.
I opened the valve, and let on the steam.
“What did you do then?” she asked, pointing to the handle of the valve.