Felix filled a soup-plate for his mother, and a basin for Bernard. 'We must begin, I suppose,' and he helped his sisters and himself.
'Here, Angel, push over your plate; I'll cut that.—How did you get on to-day?'
'Very well; the only mistake I made I found out before Smith saw it. I know all the stationery and steel pens apart now, and haven't made a mistake for a week. Yesterday Bartlett junior came in, he stood like a post before Mr. Froggatt till he caught sight of me, and then he shouted out, "O Blunderbore, you know! What is it that Collis wants?"'
'And did you?'
'When he said it was a horrid sum-book all little a's and b's.—What have you been doing, Cherry?'
'I have begun an abstract of the first Punic—'
The door flew open with a bounce, and two hot, wild-locked boys, dust everywhere except in their merry blue eyes, burst in, and tumbled on their chairs. 'I say—isn't it a horrid sell? we ain't to have a holiday for Squire's wedding.—Come, Fee, give us some grub.'
'You have not said Grace,' said Cherry.
Lance, abashed, stood up and bowed; Fulbert looked grim, and mumbled something.
'You have not washed your hands,' added Felix.