"I'm afraid I shall have to spend all my days fighting slang."
Bessie laughed outright.
"No, Ted; for if you go on improving as fast as you have done in the last six months, you will soon be free to fight another enemy than that one."
"I wonder what mine is?" said Phil, swinging his heels thoughtfully.
"Covetousness," responded Ted promptly. "It's only two days since I heard you wishing you had Miss Bessie's good temper."
"Poor Phil!" said Bess, reaching up to pat the brown head. "You'd much better wish for something more than that."
"I wonder if we shall all be together here a year from now," said Rob thoughtfully.
"Let us hope so," answered Bessie; "but that is something hidden beyond our sight. As long as we can, my boys, we will try to be together, here or somewhere else, on the last night of every year."
For some unexplained reason, Rob looked very wicked during the latter half of his cousin's speech; but no one noticed it, for Ted inquired just then,—
"What are you lads going to be when you grow up?"