Nick nodded. "I was myself once."
"Only once, Nick?" protested Musgrave, with a smile that was scarcely humorous.
Nick turned to him with a semi-rueful grimace. "Oh, my cricketing days are over. All I'm good for now is to teach other fellows the rules of the game."
At this point a high voice made itself heard in the distance, imperiously demanding Noel's presence.
"Oh, Jupiter!" exclaimed Noel. "That's Peggy! Excuse me, you chaps! She has been saving up her prayers for my benefit, and I came early on purpose!"
He was gone with the words, with all an ardent lover's alacrity, and
Will Musgrave smiled.
"He's a heady youngster, but there's real stuff in him."
"Sound, is he?" said Nick.
"I should say so; but fancy he's a bit fiery," said Will.
There was nothing to denote fieriness in Noel's attitude as he composed himself a few seconds later for the ceremony of Peggy's devotions. It was a very simple ceremony, but conducted with extreme decorum, Peggy's ayah being sternly dismissed as a preliminary.