'Hollo, Ethel!' said Harry.
'Yes, I think spontaneous castles are admirable, but I mistrust all timber from other people's woods.'
'But isn't this a horrid shame of Henry?' said Aubrey. 'Such a little prig as he is, to take the place of such a fellow as Leonard, a capital shot already.'
'I wish Henry had been magnanimous,' said Ethel.
'I'd as soon talk of a magnanimous weasel, from what I recollect,' said Harry.
'And he is worse now, Harry,' continued Aubrey. 'So spruce and silky out of doors, and such a regular old tyrannical bachelor indoors. He is jealous of Leonard, any one can see, and that's the reason he won't give him his due.'
'You observe,' said Ethel, 'that this boy thinks the youngest brother's due is always to come first.'
'So it is, in this family,' said Harry. 'No one comes so last as old Ritchie.'
'But of course,' said Aubrey, rather taken aback, 'if I were not youngest, I should have to knock under to some one.'
Ethel and Harry both laughed heartily; one congratulating him on not having carried the principle into the cockpit, the other adding, 'Don't indoctrinate Leonard with it; there is enough already to breed bitterness between those brothers! Leonard ought to be kept in mind that Henry has so much to harass him, that his temper should be borne patiently with.'