"Well," said the Doctor, as Mr Hasnip coughed to take my attention,
"why are you waiting?"
"For Mercer, sir."
"But I have not excused him. He is not a new boy; and besides, I am
sure you would like him to be punished."
"No, no!" I said eagerly; "and I don't want to be let off if he is
not."
"Hum! Hah!" ejaculated the Doctor, looking at me benevolently through
his spectacles. "Well--er--er--yes--I like that. Mercer, you are
excused too. That will do."
"Thank you, sir; thank you, sir," cried Mercer joyfully; and we both
bowed and hurried away to the loft, Mr Rebble shaking his head at us as
we passed his desk, and Mr Hasnip, as I thought, looking sadly
disappointed as far as I could judge, though I could not see his eyes.
On reaching the loft, Mercer was in such a state of exultation that he
relieved his feelings by standing upon his head on the corn-bin; but I
did not feel so glad, for I had not spoken out, and the Doctor had been
acting under a misconception, and I said so.
"Oh, never mind," cried Mercer, speaking with his heels in the air. "We
couldn't explain, and it don't matter. Oh, I say, won't old Eely be
pleased that we've got off!"
I did not answer, for I still felt that I should like to go and tell the
Doctor frankly everything that had passed.