"Shut up!" retorted William. "Now, you come on," to the hero. "Let's do the rest as quick as we can. I'm getting a bit tired of it. Let's go down to the pond an' race boats when we've done."
"Golly! Yes—let's!" said the crowd enthusiastically.
"Girls won't be allowed," said William to Elsabina.
Elsabina elevated her small nose.
"'S if I wanted to sail boats!" she said scornfully.
******
William's father entered the house hastily.
"Surely the meeting isn't over, dear?" said William's mother.
"He hasn't come," said Mr. Brown. "Everybody's waiting. We met the train, but he wasn't on it. The station-master says that he came by an earlier one and walked up, but no one can find him. He must have lost his way."
"William seems to have collected an old tramp in the stable," said Mrs. Brown; "he may have seen him on the road."