He went "nosing round," taking no notice of the stores, and putting off all invitations with a "Thank'ee kindly, not to-day." It was a sore blow to his hosts.

After what they had done for him, after the way they had nursed him all day, after the tea they had given him, and the pipes he had smoked in their study! They could have thrown him overboard in their mortification.

But the dread lest some one else, some of the middle-boys, for instance, should get hold of him and "run" him, decided them to pocket their feelings and back him up still.
"No offence, young gents," said he presently; "but if you've a ladder 'andy, I'd like to take a look up there." "Oh, there's nothing up there--only bats and owls," said Wally, "and there's no ladder." But Mr Rollitt pointed out in a corner, behind the back of the shop, some protruding bits of stone let into the brick, evidently with a view to form a rude ladder or stair to the chambers above.
This promised well.

An exploration of the Watch-tower offered some little compensation for the slight put on their shop.
"I never saw that before," said Wally.

"I vote we go up." Mr Rollitt led the way with all the agility of a practical hodman.