"But your cannon is broked—all to little bits!" said Toady Lion, trying to impress the fact on his brother's memory.
"Well, another cannon," said Hugh John—"I ain't particular."
"But the other cannons is all mine," explained Toady Lion, who has strong ideas as to the rights of property.
"No matter—one of them is mine now!" said his brother, snatching one out of his arms.
Toady Lion began to cry with a whining whimper that carried far, and with which in his time he had achieved great things.
It reached the ear of Janet Sheepshanks, busy at her stocking-mending, as Toady Lion intended it should.
"I declare," she cried, "can you not give the poor little boy what he wants? A great fellow like you pestering and teasing a child like that. Think shame of yourself! What is the matter, Arthur George?"
"Hugh John tooked my cannon!" whimpered that young Machiavel.
"Haven't got your cannon, little sneak!" said Hugh John under his breath.
"Won't give me back my cannon!" wailed Toady Lion still louder, hearing Janet beginning to move, and knowing well that if he only kept it up she would come out, and, on principle, instantly take his part. Janet never inquired. She had a theory that the elder children were always teasing and oppressing the younger, and she acted upon it—acted promptly too.