Why, therefore, did they decide to take nine pennyworth of brandy-balls, a football, a pair of boxing-gloves, and other articles of luxury not usually held to be necessary to the equipment of a relief expedition?
As regards food, they possessed too keen a recollection of the straits they had been put to up the mountain a few weeks ago to neglect that important consideration now.
Naturally, ham and Abernethys were the victuals selected.

Had not Rollitt made these classical as the staff of life during voluntary exile from school?
They were compelled to put up with a very small sample of the former.
Lickford had been bequeathed a bone by his senior yesterday, to which adhered a few fragments of a once small ham.

Possibly it might, with careful carving, furnish nine small slices.
It was better than nothing.

They would make up for its deficiency by a double lot of Abernethys.
So they trooped off to the shop.
According to their own rules, this establishment was only open between 11 and 12 in the morning, and not at all on holidays.
But another rule said that the committee might in certain cases suspend or alter the rules.
Whereupon Percy moved, and Ashby seconded, the following resolution: "That this shop be, and is, hereby opened for the space of five minutes." The motion was carried unanimously.
D'Arcy and Cottle, whose turn it was to be on duty, solemnly took down the shutters, and ranged themselves behind the counter.
"What can I do for you, my little dears ?" said the former, encouragingly.

"Money down.