The gleam in his eye seemed to say : `` I 've got you two unprincipled subscription hunters beautifully treed and it 's treed you 're going to stay . That is what I call satisfying . '' I reported the state of the case to Melissa . `` What shall we do ? '' I asked . `` Do ? '' said Melissa , snappishly . `` Why , stay here till Isaac Appleby comes out and takes that brute away ? What else can we do ? '' `` What if he is n't at home ? '' I suggested . `` We 'll stay here till he comes home . Oh , this is a nice predicament . This is what comes of cushioning churches ! '' `` It might be worse , '' I said comfortingly . `` Suppose the roof had n't been flat ? '' `` Call Isaac , '' said Melissa shortly . I did n't fancy calling Isaac , but call him I did , and when that failed to bring him Melissa condescended to call , too ; but scream as we might , no Isaac appeared , and that dog sat there and smiled internally . `` It 's no use , '' said Melissa sulkily at last . `` Isaac Appleby is dead or away . ''
Half an hour passed ; it seemed XXXXX long as a day .
Isaac Melissa as at if in of that till to