I cannot permit you to say so.' 'Thank you, madam.

I have read in the newspapers,' said Mr.Grewgious, stammering a little, 'that when a distinguished visitor (not that I am one: far from it) goes to a school (not that this is one: far from it), he asks for a holiday, or some sort of grace.

It being now the afternoon in the--College--of which you are the eminent head, the young ladies might gain nothing, except in name, by having the rest of the day allowed them.

But if there is any young lady at all under a cloud, might I solicit--' 'Ah, Mr.Grewgious, Mr.Grewgious!' cried Miss Twinkleton, with a chastely-rallying forefinger.

'O you gentlemen, you gentlemen! Fie for shame, that you are so hard upon us poor maligned disciplinarians of our sex, for your sakes! But as Miss Ferdinand is at present weighed down by an incubus'-- Miss Twinkleton might have said a pen-and-ink-ubus of writing out Monsieur La Fontaine--'go to her, Rosa my dear, and tell her the penalty is remitted, in deference to the intercession of your guardian, Mr.Grewgious.' Miss Twinkleton here achieved a curtsey, suggestive of marvels happening to her respected legs, and which she came out of nobly, three yards behind her starting-point.
As he held it incumbent upon him to call on Mr.Jasper before leaving Cloisterham, Mr.Grewgious went to the gatehouse, and climbed its postern stair.