TOADY LION'S LITTLE WAYS.
Thus it was finally arranged. The castle was to be attacked by the
combined forces of Windy Standard and the gipsy camp the following
Saturday afternoon, which would give them the enemy in their fullest
numbers. Notice would be sent, so that they could not say afterwards
that they had been taken by surprise. General Napoleon Smith was to
write the letter himself, but to say nothing in it about his new
allies. That, as Cissy put it, "would be as good as a sixpenny
surprise-packet to them."
So full was Hugh John of his new plan and the hope, now almost the
certainty, of success, that when he went home he could not help
confiding in Prissy--who, like a model housewife, was seated mending
her doll's stockings, while Janet Sheepshanks attended to those of the
elder members of the household.
She listened with quick-coming breath and rising colour, till Hugh
John thought that his own military enthusiasm had kindled hers.
"Isn't it prime?--we'll beat them till they can't speak," said Hugh
John triumphantly. "They'll never come back to our castle again after
we finish with them."
But Priscilla was silent, and deep dejection gnawed dully at her
heart.
"Poor things," she said thoughtfully; "perhaps they never had fathers
to teach them, nor godfathers and godmothers to see that they learned
their Catechism."
"Precious lot mine ever did for me--only one old silver mug!" snorted
Hugh John.
Just then Toady Lion came in.
"Oh, Hugh John," he panted, in tremulous haste to tell some fell
tidings, "I so sorry--I'se broked one of the cannons, and it's your
cannon what I'se broked."
"What were you doing with my cannon?" inquired his brother severely.
"I was juss playin' wif it so as to save my cannons, and a great bid
stone fell from the wall and broked it all to bits. I beg'oo pardon,
Hugh John!"
"All right!" said Hugh John cheerfully; "you can give me one of yours
for it."
Toady Lion stood a while silent, with a puzzled expression on his
face.
"That's not right, Hugh John," he said seriously; "I saided that I was
sorry, and I begged 'oo pardon. Father says then 'oo must fordiv me!"
"Oh, I'll forgive you right enough," said Hugh John, "after I get the
cannon. It's all the same to me which cannon I have."
"But _your_ cannon is broked--all to little bits!" said Toady Lion,
trying to impress the fact on his brother's memory.
"Well, another cannon," said Hugh John--"I ain't particular."
"But the other cannons is all mine," explained Toady Lion, who has
strong ideas as to the rights of property.
"No matter--one of them is mine now!" said his brother, snatching one
out of his arms.
Toady Lion began to cry with a whining whimper that carried far, and
with which in his time he had achieved great things.
It reached the ear of Janet Sheepshanks, busy at her stocking-mending,
as Toady Lion intended it should.
"I declare," she cried, "can you not give the poor little boy what he
wants? A great fellow like you pestering and teasing a child like
that. Think shame of yourself! What is the matter, Arthur George?"
"Hugh John tooked my cannon!" whimpered that young Machiavel.
"Haven't got your cannon, little sneak!" said Hugh John under his
breath.
"Won't give me back my cannon!" wailed Toady Lion still louder,
hearing Janet beginning to move, and knowing well that if he only kept
it up she would come out, and, on principle, instantly take his part.
Janet never inquired. She had a theory that the elder children were
always teasing and oppressing the younger, and she acted upon
it--acted promptly too.
"I wants--" began Toady Lion in his highest key.
"Oh, take the cannon, sneak!" said Hugh John fiercely, "chucking" his
last remaining piece of artillery at Toady Lion, for Janet was almost
in the doorway now.
Toady Lion burst into a howl.
"Oo-oo-ooooh!" he cried; "Hugh John hitted me on the head wif my
cannon----"
"Oh, you bad boy, wait till I catch you, Hugh Picton Smith," cried
Janet Sheepshanks, as the boy retreated precipitately through the open
French window,--"you don't get any supper to-night, rascal that you
are, never letting that poor innocent lamb alone for one minute."
In the safety of the garden walk Hugh John shook his fist at the
window.
"Oh, golly," he said aloud; "just wait till Toady Lion grows up a bit.
By hokey, won't I take this out of him with a wicket? Oh no--not at
all!"
Now Toady Lion was not usually a selfish little boy; but this day it
happened that he was cross and hot, also he had a tooth which was
bothering him. And most of all he wanted his own way, and had a very
good idea how to get it too.
That same night, when Hugh John was wandering disconsolately without
at the hour of supper, wondering whether Janet Sheepshanks meant to
keep her word, a small stout figure came waddling towards him. It was
Toady Lion with the cover of a silver-plated fish-server in his hand.
It was nearly full of a miscellaneous mess, such as children (and all
hungry persons) love--half a fried sole was there, three large mealy
potatoes, green peas, and a whole boiled turnip.
"Please, Hugh John," said Toady Lion, "I'se welly solly I broked your
cannon. I bringed you mine supper. Will 'oo forgive me?"
"All right, old chap," said the generous hero of battles instantly,
"that's all right! Let's have a jolly feed!"
So on the garden seat they sat down with the fish-cover propped
between them, and ate their suppers fraternally and happily out of one
dish, using the oldest implements invented for the purpose by the
human race.