gave a loud crack.

"Bless my heart," said Dr. Mildman, looking up in alarm, "what's that?
Gracious me!" continued he, starting back as his eyes encountered
Coleman, "there's something alive up there! why it's--eh?" continued he,
levelling his newly restored eye-glass at the object of his ~80~~alarm;
"yes, it certainly _is_ Coleman; pray, sir, is it usually your 'custom
of an afternoon,' as Shakspeare has it, to sit perched up there
cross-legged, like a Chinese mandarin? It's a very singular taste."

"Why, sir," replied Coleman, for once completely taken aback, "you see I
didn't--that is, I wasn't--I mean, if I hadn't--I shouldn't."

"Hum," resumed Dr. Mildman, with whom he was rather a favourite, and
who, now that he had satisfied himself it was not some wild animal he
had to deal with, was evidently amused by Coleman's embarrassment,
"that sentence of yours is not particularly clear or explanatory; but,"
continued he, as a new idea occurred to him, "how in the world did you
get up there? you must have flown."

"I didn't get up, I was--that is, he----" stammered

Coleman, remembering just in time that he could not explain without
involving Oaklands.

"And how are you ever to get down again?" said Dr. Mildman.

"Has the pretty bird flown yet?" cried Oaklands, hastily entering the
room; when, observing the addition the party had received during
his absence, he started back, murmuring in an under tone, "The old
gentleman, by Jove!" Quickly recovering himself, however, he sprang upon
a chair, and, seizing Coleman in his arms, whisked him down with more
haste than ceremony; and going up to Dr. Mildman said respectfully,
"That was a bit of folly of mine, sir; I put him up there; I merely did
it for a joke, and I hadn't an idea you would come in and find him".

"Never mind," replied Dr. Mildman, good-naturedly, "as you have
contrived to get him down again safely there is no harm done;" adding as
he left the room, "that young man is as strong as Hercules. I hope he'll
never take it into his head to pop me up anywhere, for I am sure he
could do it if he chose."

CHAPTER IX -- A DENOUEMENT

~81~~

"Play not for gain but sport; who plays for more
Than he can lose with pleasure, stakes his heart."
--Herbert.

"If you are so bold as to venture a blowing-up, look closely
to it! for the plot lies deadly deep... but of all things have
a care of putting i