“Oh Jiminy!” cried Alex; and he stepped back as the two young ladies sailed in.
“How do you do, Rachel?” said Rita.
“How do you do, Rachel?” said Agnes.
They were also dressed in their best, and were evidently highly pleased and intended to have a good time. They did not at all object to the fact that four rather tall, ungainly schoolboys were standing about in the hall.
“You know my brothers, don’t you, Rita?” I said, presenting Alex and Charley. “And this is Mr Von Marlo, and this is Mr Squire.”
Alex and Charley reddened up to the roots of their hair; Squibs looked as though he could not possibly get any redder—he was nearly always scarlet; but the Dutch boy, Von Marlo, bowed in the most graceful style, and then stood quite at his ease, glancing at the girls.
“I say,” said Alex, coming up to me and speaking in a very loud semi-whisper, “have they come to tea?”
“Yes—yes. Do go away—please go away—and take the boys with you.”
“But are there cookies and good things for tea?”
“Yes; but there really isn’t enough for four extra people. Do go away, Alex. I’ll have something nice for your supper by-and-by. Do! there’s a good boy.”