y possibly only a translation of a
translation, so that it may perhaps have been corrupted before it reached
us."

"That," said Panky, "will explain everything," and he went contentedly
away.

My father talked a little aside with Mrs. Humdrum about her
grand-daughter and George, for Yram had told him that she knew all about
the attachment, and then George, who saw that my father found the
greatest difficulty in maintaining an outward calm, said, "Mr. Higgs, the
streets are empty; we had better go."

My father did as Yram had told him; shook hands with every one, said all
that was usual and proper as briefly as he could, and followed George out
of the room. The Mayor saw them to the door, and saved my father from
embarrassment by saying, "Mr. Higgs, you and I understand one another too
well to make it necessary for us to say so. Good-bye to you, and may no
ill befall you ere you get home."

My father grasped his hand in both his own. "Again," he said, "I can say
no more than that I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

As he spoke he bowed his head, and went out with George into the night.

CHAPTER XXV: GEORGE ESCORTS MY FATHER TO THE STATUES; THE TWO THEN PART

The streets were quite deserted as George had said they would be, and
very dark, save for an occasional oil lamp.

"As soon as we can get within the preserves," said George, "we had better
wait till morning. I have a rug for myself as well as for you."

"I saw you had two," answered my father; "you must let me carry them
both; the provisions are much the heavier load.

George fought as hard as a dog would do, till my father said that they
must not quarrel during the very short time they had to be together. On
this George gave up one rug meekly enough, and my father yielded about
the basket, and the other rug.

It was about half-past eleven when they started, and it was after one
before they reached the preserves. For the first mile from the town they
were not much hindered by the darkness, and my father told George about
his book and many another matter; he also promised George to say nothing
about this second visit. Then the road became more rough, and when it
dwindled away to be a mere lane--becoming presently only a foot
track--they had to mind their footsteps, and got on but slowly. The
night was starlit, and warm, considering that they were more than three
thousand feet above the sea, but it was very dark, so that my father was