Nell returned in a few minutes, hauling the bashful and unwilling Colin by the hand. He was a boy of thirteen, like Jean in appearance, and rather gruff and abrupt in his manners, until he found that Patty was not so formidable as he had imagined, and that she had a brother the same age as himself, who had also won a prize for the long jump at his school sports.
"Colin's still at a preparatory," explained Jean, "but he's to go to a public school next year, either Marlborough or Rugby—Father can't quite decide which."
"Which would you rather?" enquired Patty.
"Rugby, because a fellow I know is there," replied Colin, decisively.
"I shall go to Rugby too, when Colin does," announced Jamie confidently.
"No, thanks! I wouldn't take you with those curls. You may go to The Priory with Jean," said Colin teasingly.
"Would you take me without my curls?"
"They'd certainly have to shear you first."
"Then I'll cut them off now, my own self!" cried Jamie, jumping from Patty's knee and rummaging in his nurse's workbasket for her scissors, which his sister promptly took away from him.
"Look here, Curlylocks!" she said. "If you cut your hair you won't get any more chocolates. No, not a single one ever again. I should give them all to Nell to eat instead. It's quite true. I mean it. I do indeed."