Page:Sylvester Sound the Somnambulist (1844).djvu/230

speaking to Tom very severely, Sylvester, who was somewhat alarmed, came cautiously out of his room.

"What is the meaning of this?" said the doctor.

"Upon my word, I don't know," replied Sylvester. "Some one pulled me nearly out of bed just now."

"Pulled you nearly out of bed? Oh! we must investigate this. Now, sir," he added, on reaching the study, "what is all this about?"

"It's a gabe," replied Tom. "But he's here—I kdow he's here!"

"Who's here?"

"He whob I'd give ady buddy to see."

"Nonsense!" cried the doctor. "I demand an explanation."

"You shall have it," said Tom. "But just wait a bidite: just wait till I've foudd hib. I'b adxious to give hib ad expladatiod first."

"What do you mean, Tom? Surely you are mad. There's no one here."

"Sobe wud was here, add that dot two bidites ago."

"I don't believe it: I cannot believe it!"

"I'b sure of it. If dot, how cabe by bells to ridg?"

"What bells?"

"Why, by bells: the bells which I hudg up id by roob last dight."

"Tom, what do you mean?"

"I bead that the bells which I hudg up id by roob last dight, add which cobbudicated with the legs of by bad, have beed ridgidg away for the last half hour; add I also bead that those bells would dot have rudg if the stridgs had dot beed pulled; that by bad would dot have falled if he had dot beed touched, add that, therefore, sobe wud has beed here."

"Tom," said the doctor, with an expression of severity, "I'll not be disturbed thus night after night. We must, I see, get lodgings for you somewhere else."

"The disturbadce is dot of by creatiod. You dod't thidk that I have disturbed you?"

"Who else could have done it?"

"That's the very poidt I'd give a billiod to ascertaid!"

"As far as I alone am concerned, it's a matter of slight importance but when the whole house is disturbed, it's most unpardonable. Even Sylvester must have his rest broken! What was your object in pulling him out of bed?"

"Out of bed!—Syl!—pull hib out of bed? Why I haved't beed idto his roob!"

"If you didn't, who could have pulled him out of bed?"

"That's the poidt—that's the very questiod! But were you thed pulled out of bed, Syl?"

"I was, very nearly."

"But you dod't bead to thidk that I did it?"

"It's a matter of little moment, Tom, whether you did or not."

"But I didd't! I haved't beed dear you!"

"Then it must have been some one else. I only wish that he hadn't cut my hand quite so much."

"Has your hand been cut?" inquired the doctor, taking it immediately