PEN the door, quick, Sybil. Don't you see my hands are full? What a stupid you are! Yes, that'll do. Now you can shut it after me."
And Archie came forward to the table where his aunt was sitting, a large tray spread over with specimens of seaweed that he had been drying and arranging, in his hands.
"Since when, have 'if you please' and 'thank you,' gone out of fashion, may I ask, Archie?" said his aunt.
The boy grew very red, but he laughed good-humouredly.
"I didn't mean to be rude," he said. "But Sybil doesn't mind. Do you, Sybil?"
"No," replied the little girl. "Archie isn't ever really unkind like some boys. Still I think it is nice when people thank you and speak politely to each other. But still, of course, Archie is only a boy."
"And can a boy not be a gentleman, do you think, Sybil? What do you say about it yourself, Archie?"