Part 58 (1/2)
On the whole, they were rather disappointed thatof thedoould have , whereas there were some broken s to look at, and that was all
Meanwhile the scientific people had adjourned to the cottage, where ater and clothes-brushes did a good deal to restore them to their former state, while a cup of tea hurriedly prepared by Mrs Fidler did so their shattered nerves
”But really, sir, I think you ought to let me send over to Buildston for Doctor Ranson”
”Not for ood deal shaken, andsound, but I' round Send for him to see Mr Maxted”
”Oh dear me, no I'htened, and I have a lump on the back of my head, but that is all You had better send for him, I think, to see Master Tom here”
”I don't want any doctor,” exclaiht”
”Yes, my dear,” cried the housekeeper; ”but you never will letto take prune tea or brimstone and treacle because he has been knocked down?”
”There, Mrs Fidler, you hear,” said Uncle Richard; ”we have had a narrow escape, but I don't think any of us are much the worse We only want rest Take the couch, Maxted, and lie down”
”Well--er--really,” said the Vicar; ”if you will not think it selfish of ood if I lay down for an hour I ahed and left the room as the Vicar took the couch, Uncle Richard one easy-chair, and Tom the other, to lie back and listen to the e people were still discussing the startling affair Every now and then soe raised his voice, and a word or two floated through theabout ”lightning,” and ”heared it,” and ”mussy no one was killed”
Uncle Richard was the first to break the silence by saying dryly--
”I'htning theory”
”No?” said the Vicar, turning his head
”No,” said Uncle Richard, s at the sas in other things What do you say was the cause of the trouble, Tom?”
”Well, I should say, uncle, that the silver was too strong for the glass, and made it split all to pieces”
”Not a bad theory,” said Uncle Richard ”What do you say, Maxted?”
”Well,” said the Vicar, ”do you know, I'm puzzled Of course it was not an electric shock, and e of chemistry is so very shallow; but really and truly, I feel convinced, that youcheerous explosive coht, only it was not new,” said Uncle Richard ”As soon as I could collect an to consider about what I had done, and I think I see correctly now The fact is, I forgot one very itone, while To ears
”Yes,” said Uncle Richard ”You rereyish powder?”
”Yes, thickly,” said Tom
”That had no business there, and it would not have been if I had beenWhen I took the speculued it with pure water till all that greyish poashed away, then it would have been fairly bright”
”Yes, uncle; but what has that to do with the explosion?”