"And I!"
"Of course it's quite right to forgive," drawled Green, with a curl of the lip. "I'm more than willing."
Jack ground his teeth, but Hallett saved him the trouble of replying.
"No, no; if we do the thing at all, we'll do it properly. Don't let's have any half-measures—kindly-forgivings, and all the rest of it! If anyone starts forgiving me, I'll lick him! We won't forgive anyone, not even ourselves. We'll go straight ahead on a new tack, and forget everything that's happened. If our friends the enemy look askance at us at first (and we needn't be surprised if they do), that mustn't affect us. Remember this: Scores are Settled. That's our motto; there is to be no more paying off. Chaff them if you like—I fancy they'd think there was something fishy if we didn't—but no tricks, if you please."
"What if they start them on us, Hallett?" enquired Grey, in the tone of one who merely seeks information. Hallett frowned slightly.
"Hadn't thought of that. Of course if they insist on picking a quarrel in that way—"
"But I'm nearly sure they won't," cried Jack.
"I caught Lucy pasting the leaves of my Delectus together," murmured Grey, looking at the ceiling.
"And how many things have you done to them?" retorted Jack desperately, sighing as he felt the weakness of that argument.
"Vick, will you hand Grey your india-rubber?" put in Cadbury. "There's a bit of his memory he hasn't rubbed out yet. I did as Hallett told us, and forgot everything at once. I've even forgotten my translation for to-morrow—it's gone entirely. Never mind: to obey is our first duty; to labour for Peace comes only second."