. It was by gentle means she sought to lead, not drive, her
rebellious, hot-headed young brothers back to the path of duty from
which they were so constantly straying.

'What did you want, did you say?' she asked, bewildered by the two
angry voices full of complaint on either side of her.

'You be quiet, Geoff, and let me tell her, said Alick, in a domineering
tone. 'I'm the eldest!' That being a fact, Geoff could not well
contradict it, and Alick triumphantly went on, 'You see, Theo, this is
how it all began. We asked Price, civilly enough, this morning to
allow us a whole day off on Wednesday next, instead of the usual
half-holiday. And I'll tell you why we were so anxious for a whole
day. You know Jerry Blunt?'

Theo nodded. Everybody had heard of the wanderer's return to
Northbourne.

'Of course you do. Well, but perhaps you didn't know that he has set
up as a bird-trainer, because he can't do any work since he lost his
right arm, and he is bound to make a living somehow. Jerry told Ned
Dempster that he was going to Brattlesby Woods all day Wednesday to
seek for young bullfinches, and he also said that we might go with him,
if we cared to, and help search the nests. Wouldn't that have been
splendid? Now, wouldn't it?'

Theo nodded again--emphatically. She thoroughly sympathised with all
the boys' pleasures and pursuits, even when she could not join them.

'But that cantankerous old Price refused us flat. He said we'd been
far too idle, me especially, to yield us one single hour extra; and he
hammered away about his responsibilities as he has the cheek to call
_us_. Now, I ask you, wasn't that enough to make a fellow just mad?
Wouldn't you have done exactly as we did yourself, Theo?' Alick gave
his sister's arm an impatient shake.

'Well, no. I don't think I should have danced so madly on the table to
the horrible music of the fire-irons. And I _do_ know I should not
have insulted a gentleman. Another thing'--Theo skilfully reserved her
best shot for the last--'I also am quite sure I shouldn't have set on
him when he was single-handed and I had a partner, as I said before.'

Geoff slid his hand quickly out of Theo's arm; her shot had gone home,
and his face took on a look of hot shame. Alick, on the other hand,
only frowned the more deeply.

'Let us sit down and talk it all over reasonably,' went on Theo.
'Queenie dear, it is one o'clock; you may take your lesson-book, and
make yourself