He paid no attention to his small companion and Thomas and Billy made no sign of recognition to him.
"Are you boys not going to say good morning?" asked Elizabeth, as she put on Buff's school-bag. "Don't you know that when gentlefolk meet courtesies are exchanged?"
The three boys looked at each other and murmured a greeting in a shame-faced way.
"Can you say your lessons to-day, Thomas?" Elizabeth asked, buttoning the while Buff's overcoat.
"No," said Thomas, "but Billy can say his."
"This is singing-day," said Billy brightly.
Billy was round and fat and beaming. Thomas was fat too, but inclined to be pensive. Buff was thin and seemed all one colour—eyes, hair, and complexion. Thomas and Billy were pretty children: Buff was plain.
"Uch!" said Thomas.
"I thought you liked singing-day," said Elizabeth.
"We did," said Buff, "but last day they asked me and Thomas to stop singing cos we were putting the others off the tune."