"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.