"Don't take any notice of him, Cecil," said Maurice. "Now, it's just this, boys—we four fellows are going to give our sister, the best sister in all the world, a chance."
"Hip, hip, hurrah!" shouted Charlie.
"Oh, Charlie, for goodness' sake think of poor Mrs. Rogers!" interrupted Cecil.
"I can't be thinking of that old beggar forever," muttered Charlie.
"Shut up, or I'll box you!" cried Teddy.
"Well," continued Maurice, when the din had a little ceased, "we are going to give the best sister in the world a little chance."
"I should think so! fifty, if she'll have 'em," said Jimmy.
"Well, we can only do so by denying ourselves."
The three round, schoolboy faces assumed a blank expression.