"Can't you say it?" asked Herbert.
"Yes, go ahead, Tommy," chimed in the others.
Tommy blushed. It seemed conceited to recite his sister's verses, and yet he was genuinely proud of them.
"It's a grind on us, you know," he said, warningly.
"Oh, that's all right; we're used to it; fire away."
Thus pressed, Tommy began:
"'Half a mile, half a mile,
Dust-choked and solemn,
Straight for old Jones's field
Marched the brave column.
"Forward, the Raleigh Red!
Charge for the bull!" he said.
Into the grazing herd
Marched the firm column.
"'Forward the squad brigade.'
"That's wrong, you know," he stopped to explain, "but Alice wouldn't change it; she said it didn't matter."
"It doesn't a bit," Dick answered. "Go on; it's great!"
"'Forward the squad brigade.'"