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.
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