"It is much to be regretted!" the Professor mildly replied, as soon as he had a chance of speaking. After a moment's thought he strengthened the remark. "Everything," he said, addressing Society in general, "is very much to be regretted!"
A murmur of "Hear, hear!" rose from the crowded Saloon.
There was a rather awkward pause: the Professor evidently didn't know how to begin. The Empress leant forwards, and whispered to him. "A few jokes, you know, Professorjust to put people at their ease!"
"True, true, Madam!" the Professor meekly replied. "This little boy"
"Please don't make any jokes about me!" Bruno exclaimed, his eyes filling with tears.
"I won't if you'd rather I didn't," said the kind-hearted Professor. "It was only something about a Ship's Buoy: a harmless punbut it doesn't matter." Here he turned to the crowd and addressed them in a loud voice. "Learn your A's!" he shouted. "Your B's! Your C's! And your D's! Then you'll be at your ease!"
