'Don't say you can't play on Saturday,' moaned Norris.
'Frightfully sorry. I know it's a bit of a sickener. But I don't see how I can, really. The doctor says I shan't be able to play for a couple of weeks.'
Now that the blow had definitely fallen, Norris was sufficiently himself again to be able to enquire into the matter.
'How on earth did you do it? How did it happen?'
Gosling looked guiltier than ever.
'It was on Saturday evening,' he said. 'We were ragging about at home a bit, you know, and my young sister wanted me to send her down a few balls. Somebody had given her a composition bean and a bat, and she's been awfully keen on the game ever since she got them.'
'I think it's simply sickening the way girls want to do everything we do,' said Norris disgustedly.
Gosling spoke for the defence.
'Well, she's only thirteen. You can't blame the kid. Seemed to me a jolly healthy symptom. Laudable ambition and that sort of thing.'
'Well?'