'Well, whipcord. What signifies a bit of whipcord? You can get a bit of whipcord twice as long as that for twopence, and who cares for twopence? Not I, for one! So here it goes,' cried Hal, drawing out his knife; and he cut the cord precipitately in sundry places.
'Lads, have you undone the parcels for me?' said Mr. Gresham, opening the parlour door as he spoke.
'Yes, sir,' cried Hal; and he dragged off his half-cut, half-entangled string. 'Here's the parcel.'
'And here's my parcel, uncle; and here's the string,' said Ben.
'You may keep the string for your pains,' said Mr. Gresham.
'Thank you, sir,' said Ben. 'What an excellent whipcord it is!'
'And you, Hal,' continued Mr. Gresham—'you may keep your string, too, if it will be of any use to you.'
'It will be of no use to me, thank you, sir,' said Hal.
'No, I am afraid not, if this be it,' said his uncle, taking up the jagged knotted remains of Hal's cord.
A few days after this Mr. Gresham gave to each of his nephews a new top.