'Owing to his Roman matron' quoth Tom. 'It was a wonderful opening for public spirit when Lady Walkinghame insisted on Sir Henry refusing the use of the park for practice, for fear we should make targets of the children. So the Spartan mother at Abbotstoke, gallantly setting Margaret aside, sent for the committee at once to choose the very best place in the park.'
'Papa is chairman of the committee,' added Aubrey, 'he is mayor this year, so we must encourage it.'
'And Aubrey hit four times at a hundred yards,' triumphantly declared Gertrude, 'when Edward Anderson and Henry Ward only got a ball in by accident.'
'Henry Ward ought to be shot at himself,' was Aubrey's sentiment, 'for not letting Leonard be in the corps.'
'The fellow that you brought to Maplewood?' asked Hector. 'I thought he was at school.'
'Didn't you know that old Hoxton has given leave to any of the sixth form to drill and practise? and that trumpery fellow, Henry, says he can't afford the outfit, though his sister would have given the uniform.'
'Let me tell you, young folks,' said the Doctor, 'that you are not to suppose it always hails crack rifles on all sorts of improved systems, as it does when Captain Hector is in the house.'
'They are only on trial, sir,' apologized Hector.
'Very odd then that they all have an eagle and H. E. on them,' observed the Doctor dryly.
'Oh! they'll take them again, or I shall find a use for them,' said Hector.