"I laid in a fresh stock of fruit this morning, ma'am, and it's good enough for anybody," sniffed Maud, with indignant air.
"Do you call that a musket, sir?" asked Chester of Frank.
"No, sir; I called it the stock of one."
"Lulu and Eva, why bring those creatures in here?" asked Herbert, elevating his eyebrows as in astonishment.
"Because they're our live stock," replied Lulu.
Now Frank began to play the part of a clown or buffoon, acting in a very silly and stupid manner, while the others looked on laughing and pointing their fingers at him in derision.
"Frank, can't you behave yourself?" exclaimed Maud. "It mortifies me to see you making yourself the laughing-stock of the whole company."
"Laughing-stock—laughing-stock," said several voices among the spectators, the captain adding, "Very well done indeed!"
"Thank you, sir," said Harold. "If the company are not tired we will give them one more."
"Let us have it," said his grandfather.