Oh, yes, I
see!" and Babie went off again in an ecstatic fit of laughter.
"I hope you've got boots and a tail ready for George," added Bobus.
"Being a tiger already, he may serve as cat."
Therewith the post came in, and broke up the discourse; for Babie had
a letter from Eton, from Armine who was shut up with a sore throat."
Her mother was less happy. She had asked a holiday for the next day
for her two Eton boys and their cousin John, and the reply had been
that though for two of the party there could be no objection, her
elder boy was under punishment for one of the wild escapades to which
he was too apt to pervert his excellent abilities.
"Are not they coming, mother?" asked Babie. "Armie does not say."
"Unfortunately Jock has got kept in again."
"Poor Jock!" said Bobus; "sixpence a day, and no expectations, would
have been better pasture for his brains."
"Yes," said his mother with a sigh, "I doubt if we are any of us much
the better or the wiser for Belforest."
"The wiser, I'm sure, because we've got Miss Ogilvie," cried Babie.
"Do I hear babes uttering the words of wisdom?" asked Allen, coming
into the room, and pretending to pull her hair, as the school-room
party rose from the breakfast-table, and he met them with
outstretched hands.
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