The three boys set to work, picked up the pieces, and sponged up the water; but there was a great, rugged, black-looking patch, like a North American continent, with plenty of islands all round it, in the midst of the carpet; but then, too, there were the fragments of broken bottle and glass.
“Oh! I say, what shall we do?” exclaimed Philip again, when all was made as decent as circumstances would permit.
There was a minute’s silence which no one seemed inclined to break; but at last Harry said, moodily, “Why, we must go and tell Mamma; she won’t be so very, very cross.”
“She will, though; for she said we were not to bolster, because it spoiled the pillow-cases so, and—”
Here Philip caught sight of the pillow lying upon Fred’s bed, the cover being nearly torn off. Upon seeing this ghastly object Philip looked more grim than ever, and he left his sentence unfinished.
“Let’s buy another bottle,” said Fred; “I’ll pay.”
This was a new idea.
“Capital,” said Harry. “I’ve got a shilling Papa gave me yesterday, and I’ll pay half.”
“So will I,” said Philip, brightening up.
But, as the bottle could not be bought by the lads all paying half, it was decided that they should all bear a share in the proposed expense, and go and buy the new water-holder before breakfast.