“Else we shall all hit one another anyhow,” said another.
“Stick feathers in our hats.”
“Ribbons round our arms would be best,” said Cecil. “Hats may be knocked off.”
“Ribbons will do first-rate,” said Bevis. “I’ll have blue; Ted, you have red. You can buy heaps of ribbon for nothing.”
“Phil,” said Ted, “have you got any money?”
“Half-a-crown.”
“Lend us, then.”
“No, I shan’t,” said Phil: “I’ll buy the ribbons myself.”
“Let’s have a skirmish now,” said Bill. “Come on, Val,” and he began to whirl his hands about.
“Stop that,” said Bevis. “Ted, there’s a truce, and if you let your fellows fight it’s breaking it. Catch hold of Bill—Mark, Cecil, hold him.”