Mr. Augustus Higginbottom went to the length of removing his cigar from the corner of his mouth.
"See here, Jukes," said he, "it's not you we want, it's the goalkeeper. Now, Arper, I am empowered by my feller directors to offer you two pound a week with a rise next year if you turn out satisfactory."
"That's more like it," said Ginger coolly. "Two pound a week and a rise next year. What do you say, Sailor boy? Or do you think it would be better to see the Villa?"
It was as much as the chairman could do to keep from pitching Jukes out of the room. His cheek was amazing, but if this course was taken, it was clear that Harper would not adorn his person with a chocolate and blue shirt.
The unlucky fact was that the goalkeeper and the right full back had only one mind between them. And that mind was not in the possession of the goalkeeper.
"We've allus played together," said Ginger, "and we allus shall. I've taught him all he knows—haven't I, Sailor boy?"
"Yep," said the Sailor, coming humbly into the conversation for the first time.
"We've allus played for the same club, we lodge together, we work together, we are pals in everythink—ain't we, Sailor boy?"
"Yep," said the Sailor.
"And if you don't want us it's all the same to us—ain't it, Sailor boy?"