“Now you’ve done, you’d better hook it,” said Philpot, “you’ve not got leave to come here.”
“Oh, don’t be riled,” said Cusack; “the fact is, Pil and I came to see if you’d put us up to a thing or two in this sort of business.”
“We’ve gone on the steady, Phil, you know,” explained Pilbury, in conciliatory tones, “and thought it would be rather jolly if we three worked up a little chemistry together.”
“We’d watch you do the things at first, of course,” said Cusack, “till we twigged all the dodges.”
“And it would be jolly good practice for you, you know, in case ever old Mix-’em-up is laid up, and you have to lecture instead.”
Philpot regarded his two would-be pupils doubtfully, but softened considerably as they went on.
“You’ll have to promise not to fool,” said he, presently, “or there’ll be a row.”
“Oh, rather; we won’t touch anything without asking, will we, Pil?” replied Cusack. “Awfully brickish of you, Philpot.”
Philpot took the compliment very complacently, and the two students settled themselves one on either side of the table and waited for operations to begin.
“Wire in, old man,” said Pilbury, encouragingly; “cut all the jaw, you know, and start with the experiments. Can’t you give us a jolly flare-up to begin with?”