“Hanky during the whole interview was furious, at having to play so undignified a part, but even more so, because the King while he paid marked attention to Dr. Downie, and even to myself, treated him with amused disdain.  Nevertheless, angry though he was, he was impenitent, unabashed, and brazened it out at Bridgeford, that the King had received him with open arms, and had snubbed Dr. Downie and myself.  But for his (Hanky’s) intercession, I should have been dismissed then and there from the Rangership.  And so forth.  Panky never opened his mouth.

“Returning to the King, his Majesty said to Dr. Downie, ’I am afraid I shall not be able to canonize any of you gentlemen just yet.  We must let this affair blow over.  Indeed I am in half a mind to have this Sunchild bubble pricked; I never liked it, and am getting tired of it; you Musical Bank gentlemen are overdoing it.  I will talk it over with her Majesty.  As for Professor Hanky, I do not see how I can keep one who has been so successfully hoodwinked, as my Professor of Worldly Wisdom; but I will consult her Majesty about this point also.  Perhaps I can find another post for him.  If I decide on having Sunchildism pricked, he shall apply the pin.  You may go.’

“And glad enough,” said George, “we all of us were to do so.”

“But did he,” I asked, “try to prick the bubble of Sunchildism?”

“Oh no.  As soon as he said he would talk it over with her Majesty, I knew the whole thing would end in smoke, as indeed to all outward appearance it shortly did; for Dr. Downie advised him not to be in too great a hurry, and whatever he did to do it gradually.  He therefore took no further action than to show marked favour to practical engineers and mechanicians.  Moreover he started an aeronautical society, which made Bridgeford furious; but so far, I am afraid it has done us no good, for the first ascent was disastrous, involving the death of the poor fellow who made it, and since then no one has ventured to ascend.  I am afraid we do not get on very fast.”

“Did the King,” I asked, “increase your salary?”

“Yes.  He doubled it.”

“And what do they say in Sunch’ston about our father’s second visit?”

George laughed, and shewed me the newspaper extract which I have already given.  I asked who wrote it.

“I did,” said he, with a demure smile; “I wrote it at night after I returned home, and before starting for the capital next morning.  I called myself ‘the deservedly popular Ranger,’ to avert suspicion.  No one found me out; you can keep the extract, I brought it here on purpose.”

“It does you great credit.  Was there ever any lunatic, and was he found?”

“Oh yes.  That part was true, except that he had never been up our way.”

“Then the poacher is still at large?”

“It is to be feared so.”

“And were Dr. Downie and the Professors canonized after all.”