Bertie hesitated a moment.
"It's something we don't ever get here," he answered, with a note of resentment in his voice; "but Pickle and Puck know all about it, and I mean to learn too."
"O Bertie!—and so will I!"
"That's right. I'd like you to come too. I don't see why you should be a little cockney any more than I!"
"O Bertie! what's that?"
"Well, I don't just exactly know; but it's something I heard father say."
"Well, I'll tell you. I was in his study learning my Latin declension; and I was behind the curtain, and I think he'd forgotten I was there. Mother came in, and they talked, and I stopped my ears and was learning away, when I heard them say something about Puck and Pickle. Then I listened."
"What did they say?"
"Mother was saying she was afraid they were naughty, rude boys, and would teach us mischief; and then father laughed and said he didn't much mind if they did."