“We’re all waiting for our big bruvvers,” piped up one bold person in blue breeches—seven if he was a day.
“It keeps ’em quieter, Sir,” the maiden lisped. “The others are with the regiments.”
“Yeth, and they’ve all lots of blank for you,” said the gentleman in blue breeches ferociously.
“Oh, Artie! ’Ush!” the girl cried.
“But why have they lots of blank for us?” Bayley asked. Blue Breeches stood firm.
“’Cause—’cause the Guard’s goin’ to fight the Schools this afternoon; but my big bruvver says they’ll be dam-well surprised.”
“Artie!” The girl leaped towards him. “You know your ma said I was to smack——”
“Don’t. Please don’t,” said Bayley, pink with suppressed mirth. “It was all my fault. I must tell old Verschoyle this. I’ve surprised his plan out of the mouths of babes and sucklings.”
“What plan?”
“Old Vee has taken the battalion up to the top of the common, and he told me he meant to charge down through the kids, but they’re on to him already. He’ll be scuppered. The Guard will be scuppered!”