The good Lord behear! he exclaimed, stood stock-still for a moment, and waddled off at top speed towards the back door. We must tell Aunt at once! […]

theodolitic observations

with upward eye; with upward course

He had only to be startled into losing his balance, you might say, and he might take a grab at something, manage only a heavy fall, and go tumbling down, staircase and all.