"Oh, all right," said Dick indifferently, "you may keep the authority if you like." "Then do what I tell you. Can't you see how urgent it is that a scandal like this shouldn't get about? I should be the laughing-stock of the city. Not a soul must ever guess that such a thing has happened. You must see that yourself." "Yes," said Dick, who all this time was sitting on a corner of the table, swinging his legs, "I see that. It will be all right. I'm going to wish in a minute, and no one will guess there has been anything the matter." "That's a good boy!" said Paul, much relieved, "I know your heart is in the right place--only do make haste." "I suppose," Dick asked, "when you are yourself again, things would go on just as usual?" "I--I hope so." "I mean you will go on sitting here, and I shall go off to Grimstone's?" "Of course, of course," said Paul; "don't ask so many questions. I'm sure you quite understand what has to be done, so get on. We might be found like this any minute." "That settles it," said Dick, "any fellow would do it after that." "Yes, yes, but you're so slow about it!" "Don't be in a hurry," said Dick, "you mayn't like it after all when I've done it." "Done what?" asked Mr. Bultitude sharply, struck by something sinister and peculiar in the boy's manner. "Well, I don't mind telling you," said Dick, "it's fairer. You see, you wished to be a boy just like me, didn't you?" "I didn't mean it," protested Paul. "Ah, you couldn't expect a stone to know that; at any rate, it made you into a boy like me directly. Now, if I wish myself a man just like you were ten minutes ago, before you took the stone, that will put things all right again, won't it?" "Is the boy mad?" cried Paul, horrified at this proposal. "Why, why, that would be worse than ever!" "I don't see that," objected Dick, stubbornly. "No one would know anything about it then." "But, you little blockhead, can't I make you understand? It wouldn't do at all. We should both of us be wrong then--each with the other's personal appearance." "Well," said Dick blandly, "I shouldn't mind that." "But I should--I mind very much. I object strongly to such a--such a preposterous arrangement. And what's more, I won't have it. Do you hear, I forbid you to think of any such thing. Give me back that stone. I can't trust you with it after this." "I can't help it," said Dick doggedly. "You've had your wish, and I don't see why I shouldn't have mine. I mean to have it, too." "Why, you unnatural little rascal!" cried the justly-enraged father, "do you mean to defy me? I tell you I will have that stone! Give it up this instant!" and he made a movement towards his son, as if he meant to recover the talisman by main force. But Dick was too quick for him. Slipping off the table with great agility, he planted himself firmly on the hearth-rug, with the hand that held the stone clenched behind his back, and the other raised in self-defence.