“Oh, very much so indeed, my Lady!” the Professor hastily replied, unconsciously rubbing his ear, while some painful recollection seemed to cross his mind. “I was very forcibly struck by His Magnificence, I assure you!”
“He is a charming boy!” my Lady exclaimed. “Even his snores are more musical than those of other boys!”
If that _were_ so, the Professor seemed to think, the snores of _other_ boys must be something too awful to be endured: but he was a cautious man, and he said nothing.
“And he’s so clever!” my Lady continued. “No one will enjoy your Lecture more—by the way, have you fixed the time for it yet? You’ve never given one, you know: and it was promised years ago, before you——”
“Yes, yes, my Lady, _I_ know! Perhaps next Tuesday—or Tuesday week——”
“That will do very well,” said my Lady, graciously. “Of course you will let the Other Professor lecture as well?”
“I think _not_, my Lady,” the Professor said with some hesitation. “You see, he always stands with his back to the audience. It does very well for _reciting_; but for _lecturing_——”
“You are quite right,” said my Lady. “And, now I come to think of it, there would hardly be time for more than _one_ Lecture. And it will go off all the better, if we begin with a Banquet, and a Fancy-dress Ball——”
“It will indeed!” the Professor cried, with enthusiasm.
“I shall come as a Grass-hopper,” my Lady calmly proceeded. “What shall _you_ come as, Professor?”
The Professor smiled feebly. “I shall come as—as early as I can, my Lady!”
“You mustn’t come in before the doors are opened,” said my Lady.
“I ca’n’t,” said the Professor. “Excuse me a moment. As this is Lady Sylvie’s birthday, I would like to——” and he rushed away.
Bruno began feeling in his pockets, looking more and more melancholy as he did so: then he put his thumb in his mouth, and considered for a minute: then he quietly left the room.
He had hardly done so before the Professor was back again, quite out of breath. “Wishing you many happy returns of the day, my dear child!” he went on, addressing the smiling little girl, who had run to meet him. “Allow me to give you a birthday-present. It’s a second-hand pincushion, my dear. And it only cost fourpence-halfpenny!”
“Thank you, it’s _very_ pretty!” And Sylvie rewarded the old man with a hearty kiss.