"No, I shan't," said he; "I'd get into the row instead." As his eye travelled round and marked the curious smile on every face it suddenly dawned upon him that he had been "done." His first sensation was one of immense relief.

He should not have to pay for his dinner after all! His second was a cunning device for getting out of the dilemma.
"I thought you'd begin to laugh soon," said he to D'Arcy.

"I knew you couldn't keep it up." D'Arcy turned very red in the face and glared at this audacious youngster in deserved wrath.
"What do you mean, you young ass?
You know you've swallowed it all." "He swallowed all the grub anyhow," said another.
"No, I've not," said Master Ashby.

"I'd have another go-in now.

I knew he'd have to laugh in the end." It was hopeless to deal seriously with a rebel of this sort.