If we were to play them in August they would know their own play as well as we know ours." "Only," chimed in Riddell, "these county teams don't stick to the same elevens as regularly as a school does." "My dear, have you done your tea ?" inquired Mrs Patrick's voice across the table.
"Yes.

Shall I ring ?" said the doctor.
"Allow me," said Fairbairn, rising hastily, and nearly knocking over Miss Stringer in his eagerness.
The spinster, who had already received in her own opinion sufficient affront for one evening, put the worst construction possible on this accident, and answered with evident ill-temper, "You are very clumsy, sir!" "I beg your pardon, indeed!" said Fairbairn.

"I hope you are not hurt ?" "Be silent, sir!" Fairbairn, quite taken aback by this unexpected exclamation, did not know what to say, and looked round inquiringly at the doctor, as much as to ask if the lady was often taken this way.
The doctor, however, volunteered no explanation, but looked uncomfortable and coughed.
"If you will excuse me," said Miss Stringer to her sister, with a forced severity of tone, "I will go to my room." "You are not well, I fear," said Mrs Patrick.

"I will go with you"; and next moment the enemy was gone, and the doctor and his boys were together.
Dr Patrick, who, to tell the truth, seemed scarcely less relieved than his visitors, made no attempt to apologise for Miss Stringer's sudden indisposition, and embarked at once on a friendly talk about school affairs.
This had been his only object in inviting the boys.

He had nothing momentous to say, and no important change to propose.