“They’d have been bigger duffers than I take them for if they did,” remarked Jack.
“Perhaps in those days,” remarked Andrew, “the ladies had more go in them than the meek and mild Fay has.”
“Now, I say, don’t you jeer at Faith,” cried Phil, quickly.
“You’d better not,” cried Phoena, “or you’ll be disgraced and degraded, Andrew, as recreant to your vows.”
“Come on,” said Jack, springing to his feet, and thrusting his cap in true schoolboy fashion at the back of his head with the peak well over his left ear, “come on, fellow conspira—— knights I mean, I’ve an idea.”
“May I come, too?” asked Hubert, timidly.
“And I, too?” enquired Gaston, returning at that moment.
There was a whispered conference between the elders, then Andrew said audibly:
“As my valet, you know, he will be under my control, and we might find him useful.”
“Oh! yes, I’d be werry useful,” shouted Hubert, fervently. He was trembling with fear lest on the very threshold of his new career he should meet with a rebuff.