"Never mind your head just now," said Robert; "try to be honest and honourable, and do your duty in that state of life!"
"This is a judgment on me for something, I suppose," said the Reverend Septimus, wearily, "but I really cannot at the moment remember what."
"Send for the police," said Miss Selina.
"Send for a doctor," said the curate.
"Do you think they are mad then?" said Miss Amelia.
"I think I am," said the curate.
Jane had been crying ever since her capture. Now she said:—
"You aren't now, but perhaps you will be, if——And it would serve you jolly well right, too."
"Aunt Selina," said the curate, "and Aunt Amelia, believe me, this is only an insane dream. You will realize it soon. It has happened to me before. But do not let us be unjust, even in a dream. Do not hold the children; they have done no harm. As I said before, it was I who opened the box."
The strong, bony hands unwillingly loosed their grasp. Robert shook himself and stood in sulky resentment. But Jane ran to the curate and embraced him so suddenly that he had not time to defend himself.