I was afraid I'd lose the place if he did, for the Capt.
is awful strict.

If Jack don't tell now, I will.

I ain't mean.

Glad you wrote.
"R.O.W." "Hurrah!" cried Jill, waving the letter over her head in great triumph.
"Call everybody and read it out," she added, as Frank snatched it, and ran for his mother, seeing at a glance that the news was good.

Jill was so afraid she should tell before the others came that she burst out singing "Pretty Bobby Shafto" at the top of her voice, to Jack's great disgust, for he considered the song very personal, as he _was_ rather fond of "combing down his yellow hair," and Jill often plagued him by singing it when he came in with the golden quirls very smooth and nice to hide the scar on his forehead.
In about five minutes the door flew open and in came Mamma, making straight for bewildered Jack, who thought the family had gone crazy when his parent caught him in her arms, saying tenderly,-- "My good, generous boy! I knew he was right all the time!" while Frank worked his hand up and down like a pump-handle, exclaiming heartily,-- "You're a trump, sir, and I'm proud of you!" Jill meantime calling out, in wild delight,-- "I told you so! I told you so! I did find out; ha, ha, I did!" "Come, I say! What's the matter?
I'm all right.