Verney, much amused, said: “You young rebels are always in mischief. The orders of Mr. Galloway are that every one after dark must carry a lantern.�
“Well, we wanted to carry it.�
“What did Sambo say?�
“He ran away when the soldier said he had no light. Then we ran, too, like everything.�
“And was that all?� The twins hesitated. “Oh, don’t be afraid,� cried Verney. “What next?�
“We hurrahed for Washington and snowballed him.�
“What, Washington?�
“No, sir, the soldier; and he ran after us and we ran down Willings Alley and got over the wall and then over our own wall, and that soldier-man he is asking questions of Mr. Willing’s cook.�
Tom grinned approval, the Count looked serious, and Verney laughed while the Colonel said, “I have a mind to spank both of you.�
Mrs. Markham turned on him. “I can attend to those ceremonies myself, sir�—a fact of which the twins were well aware.