"I have been considering," said he, "that it would be highly desirable, after all I have passed through lately, to sit in my chair on the pavement against the wall of my church with a pipe and a newspaper; and I have concluded that----" "We will now call Mr. Hanlon," said the old man. From the time Mr. Hanlon placed his hands under the old man's arms his tongue was rattling on at a prodigious speed; and as he tossed the old man lightly away like a doll he was saying, "And niver once did the spacheless man and the deaf wife have anny worrds except once; and 'twas then that----." But he spoke no more. He was himself again. He was dumb. Toby greeted him warmly, but he only nodded his head vigorously, and smiled his old-time cheerful smile. "That's all," said the old man. "But the two Old Codgers----" began Toby. "They will not be here," said the old man. "No use waiting. They made their choice some time ago. They are as much themselves now as they ever were, and they will remain where they are in perfect contentment. No need to bother about them. All that remains now is to bid you farewell, and wish you a pleasant journey." "Have we far to go?" said Toby. "You'll see," said the old gentleman, going to the door, that was opposite the one by which they had entered, and throwing it open. He stood aside as they passed, and smiled upon each with a kind and fatherly smile. He placed his hand on Freddie's head, and turned the Little Boy's face up so that he could look down into his eyes. "Remember!" he said. "Never carry the Old Man of the Mountain on your back. Carry him before you in your hands, and he will be as light as a feather. Now farewell." He gently pushed them out and closed the door behind them, and they went slowly down a dark stair. Toby held Freddie's hand, and Mr. Punch helped Aunt Amanda. They could see very little, and they knew very little where they were, until they found themselves after a time on a level floor, and feeling the wall with their hands came to a pair of swinging doors. Through these doors they passed, and Toby knocked his knee against something in the dark. "It's a long bench!" said Toby. "And here's a sight of other long benches! Blamed if they don't seem like pews in a church!" A dim light as of tall windows was visible at some distance on their left. The Churchwarden pushed forward and walked swiftly here and there with the step of one who knows the way. In a moment he returned. "It's a church," he said, calmly. "It's _my_ church. This way, madam and gentlemen." He led the way to the left. Under a great round window which could be dimly seen in the wall was a wide door, before which they all paused. "As captain of this party," said Aunt Amanda, "my orders is that we open the door and see what will happen next." "Ay, ay, ma'am," said the Churchwarden, and opened the door.