m.
The old lady says she and the other rogue are your children. Doctor,
there's a notion for you!--an old bachelor like you, too! He! he!"

"We are indeed!" cried the old man, echoing the shrill tones of his
helpmeet. "I'm Morgan, Dr Prudhom, and he's Dell. Indeed, we're
speaking the truth. We only did it--"

"There, you see," once more observed the delighted professor; "it's the
very thing I knew would happen. They know you are a schoolmaster, and
they want you to believe-- Oh, this is really most interesting."

The doctor seemed to find it interesting. He changed colour several
times, and looked hard at the two reprobates before him. But their
weather-and-dust-beaten countenances conveyed no information to his
mind. Their voices certainly did startle him with something like a
familiar sound; but might not this be part of the deep dissimulation
dwelt upon with so much emphasis by his learned friend?

"I wouldn't have missed this for twenty pounds," said the magistrate,
beaming on his guest; "my theories are confirmed to the letter."

"We only did it for a lark, sir, and we're awfully sorry," cried the old
man. "We really are, aren't we, Dell?"

"Yes, sir," cried the old lady; "please let us off this time."

"Upon my word," said the doctor, getting up and advancing towards the
prisoners. "I don't know--"

"Don't be a fool, Prudhom; I know them of old. Sit down, man.
Constable, I shall commit the prisoners. Where are my papers?"

"Oh, doctor, please save us!" cried the old lady again. "We are
speaking the truth. Let us wash our faces and take off our cloaks, and
you'll see we are. Oh, we'll never do it again!"

And before the doctor could reply, or the scandalised constables could
prevent it, the two gipsies cast off their outer garments, and presented
themselves to the bewildered spectators in the mud-stained jerseys and
knickerbockers of the Holmhurst football club! I draw a veil over the
explanations, the lectures, and the appeals which followed, as also I
forbear to dwell upon the consternation of the man of science, and the
cruel disorganisation of all his cherished theories. It is only fair to
say that the professor bore no malice, when once he discovered how the
matter stood, and used his magisterial influence with the doctor to
procure at any rate a mitigated punishment for the culprits.

The delinquents were ordered off to the lavatory, and left there with a
can of hot water and a c