"But I do not understand, cousin Hal," said little Patty, "why you call this bow a famous bow. You say famous very often; and I don't know exactly what it means—a famous uniform—famous doings—I remember you said there was to be famous doings, the first of September, upon the Downs—What does famous mean?"
"O, why, famous means—Now don't you know what famous means?—It means—It is a word that people say—It is the fashion to say it—It means—it means famous."
Patty laughed, and said, "This does not explain it to me."
"No," said Hal, "nor can it be explained. If you don't understand it, that's not my fault; everybody but little children, I suppose, understands it; but there's no explaining those sort of words, if you don't take them at once. There's to be famous doings upon the Downs, the first of September; that is, grand, fine. In short, what does it signify talking any longer, Patty, about the matter? Give me my bow; for I must go out upon the Downs and practise."
Ben accompanied him with the bow and the three arrows which his uncle had now given to him; and every day these two boys went out upon the Downs, and practised shooting with indefatigable perseverance. Where equal pains are taken, success is usually found to be pretty nearly equal. Our two archers, by constant practise, became expert marksmen; and before the day of trial, they were so exactly matched in point of dexterity, that it was scarcely possible to decide which was superior.
The long-expected first of September at length arrived. "What sort of a day is it?" was the first question that was asked by Hal and Ben, the moment that they awakened.
The sun shone bright! But there was a sharp and high wind.
"Ha!" said Ben. "I shall be glad of my good great coat to-day; for I've a notion it will be rather cold upon the Downs, especially when we are standing still, as we must whilst the people are shooting."
"O, never mind! I don't think I shall feel cold at all," said Hal, as he dressed himself in his new green and white uniform; and he viewed himself with much complacency.
"Good morning to you, uncle; how do you do?" said he in a voice of exultation, when he entered the breakfast-room.