F. Anstey

“ Escape, after all, was simple enough when he came to try it; he could hardly believe at first that he really was free at last; free with money enough in his pocket to take him home, with the friendly darkness to cover his retreat; free to go back and confront Dick on his own ground, and, by force, or fraud, get the Garudâ Stone into his own hands once more. ”

“ It's a most painful exhibition of pure piggishness. There shall be no pocketing at this table, sir. You will eat that pudding under my eye at once, and you will stay in and write out French verbs for two days. That will put an end to any more guzzling in the garden for a time, at least.'
Jolland seemed stupefied, though relieved, by the unexpected construction put upon his conduct, as he gulped down the intercepted fragments of pudding, while the rest diligently cleared their plates with as much show of appreciation as they could muster.
Mr. Bultitude shuddered at this one more narrow escape. ”

“ If he had been detected—as he must have been in another instant—in smuggling pudding in an envelope he might have incautiously betrayed his real motives, and then, as the Doctor was morbidly sensitive concerning all complaints of the fare he provided, he would have got into worse trouble than the unfortunate Jolland, to say nothing of the humiliation of being detected in such an act. ”

“ They bear the mandate.'
Paul never quite knew how the remainder of that day passed at Crichton House. He was ordered to join a class which was more or less engaged with some kind of work: he had a hazy idea that it was Latin, though it may have been Greek; but he was spared the necessity of taking any active part in the proceedings, as Mr. Blinkhorn was not disposed to be too exacting with a boy who in one short morning had endured a sentence of expulsion, a lecture, the immediate prospect of a flogging, and a paternal visit, and, as before, mercifully left him alone. ”

“ Bultitude found, when it came to the point, that it was almost impossible for him to screw up his courage to run away.
It is not a pleasant state, this indecision whether to stay passively and risk the worst or avoid it by flight, and the worst of it is that, whatever course is eventually forced upon us, it finds us equally unprepared, and more liable from such indecision to bungle miserably in the sequel.
Paul might never have gained heart to venture, but for an unpleasant incident that took place during dinner and a discovery he made after it. ”

“ Fortune's countenance is apt to be so alarmingly mobile with some unfortunates.
But in spite of the new facilities given him for escape, and his strong motives for taking advantage of them, he soon found to his utter dismay that he shrank from committing himself to so daring and dangerous a course, just as much as when he had tried to make a confidant of the Doctor. ”

“ I ain't very far off, now, am I?'
'No,' said Paul; for something in the man's manner inspired confidence. 'I do want to make a bolt of it. I've been most abominably treated.'
'Well, look here, I ain't got no right to interfere; and if you're caught, I look to you not to bring my name in. I don't want to get into trouble up at Crichton House and lose good customers, you see. But I like the looks of you, and you've always dealt 'ere pretty regular. I don't mind if I give you a lift. Just see here. You want to get off to London, don't you? What for is your business, not mine. ”

“ He was alone in the schoolroom, for the others had all gone down into the playground, except Jolland, who was confined in one of the class-rooms below, when the thought came over him to test the truth of Dick's hint about a name cut on the Doctor's writing-table.
He stole up to it guiltily, and, lifting the slanting desk which stood there, examined the surface below. Dick had been perfectly correct. There it was, glaringly fresh and distinct, not large but very deeply cut and fearfully legible. 'R. Bultitude.' It might have been done that day. ”

“ They say—the paradox-mongers say—that it requires a far higher degree of moral courage for a soldier in action to leave the ranks under fire and seek a less distinguished position towards the rear, than would carry him on with the rest to charge a battery. ”

“ Bultitude was horrified to hear the station-bell ring loudly, and immediately after a cloud of white steam rose above the station roof as the London train clanked cumbrously in, and was brought to with a prolonged screeching of brakes.
The others were walking very slowly. At the present pace it would be almost impossible to reach the train in time. He looked round at them anxiously. 'H-hadn't we better run, don't you think?' he asked.
'Run!' said Coker scornfully. 'What for? I'm not going to run. You can, if you like.'
'Why, ah, really,' said Paul briskly, very grateful for the permission ”

“ Coggs growled sulkily; Coker gave a tragic groan, and said: 'I don't care when you tell, Chawner. Do it to-night if you like. Let's talk about something else. Bultitude hasn't told us yet how he came out here after us.'
His last words suggested a pretext to Paul, of which he hastened to make use. 'Oh,' he said, 'I? I came out here, after you, to say that Dr. Grimstone will not require the "St. James' Gazette". He wants the "Globe" and, ah, the "Echo" instead.'
It did not sound a very probable combination ”