"A fortnight ago," said Hamilton, "I told this silly ass——"
"Your jolly old brother is referrin' to me, dear lady," explained Bones.
"Who else could I be referring to?" demanded the other truculently. "I told him to have all the company accounts ready by to-morrow. You know, sir, that the paymaster is coming down from Administration to check 'em, and will you believe me, sir"—he glared at Bones, who immediately closed his eyes resignedly—"would you believe me that, when I went to examine those infernal accounts, they were all at sixes and sevens?"
"Threes an' nines, dear old officer," murmured Bones, waking up, "the matter in dispute being a trifle of thirty-nine dollars, which I've generously offered to make up out of my own pocket."
He beamed round as one who expected applause.
"And on the top of this," fumed Hamilton, "he talks of taking Pat for an early morning picnic to the village island!"
"Accompanied by the jolly old accounts," corrected Bones. "Do me justice, sir and brother-officer. I offered to take the books with me, an' render a lucid and convincin' account of my stewardship."
"Don't make me laugh," snarled Hamilton, stamping into the bungalow.
"Isn't he naughty?" said Bones admiringly.
"Now, Bones," warned the girl, "I shan't go unless you keep your word with Alec."