They're not his boys, but her ladyship's, and she has spoiled 'em, I suppose.

Let 'em grow wild, Grant.

I say, my lad," he continued, looking at me with a droll twinkle in his eye, "they want us to train them, and prune them, and take off some of their straggling growths, eh?
I think we could make a difference in them, don't you ?" I smiled and nodded.
"Only schoolboys.

Say anything, but it won't hurt us.

Here we are.
Come in." He led the way into a plainly furnished room, where everything seemed to have been scoured till it glistened or turned white; and standing by a table, over which the supper cloth had been spread, was a tall, quiet-looking, elderly woman, with her greyish hair very smoothly stroked down on either side of her rather severe face.
"This is young Grant," said Mr Solomon.
The woman nodded, and looked me all over, and it seemed as if she took more notice of my shirt and collar than she did of me.
"Sit down, Grant, you must be hungry," said Mr Solomon; and as soon as we were seated the woman, who, I supposed, was Mrs Solomon, began to cut us both some cold bacon and some bread.
"Master Philip been at you long ?" said Mr Solomon, with his mouth full.
"No, sir," I said; "it all happened in a moment or two." "I'm glad you didn't hit him," he said.