"So that's the way Hayles," jeered the
lad, "stand by a cat's-paw friend, is it?"
"Hayles," said Julian, "never settle difficulties before ladies."
The boy resisted again as his laughing sister half knelt to lay her arms
about him soothingly. "Oh, these ladies won't mind," he tearfully
sneered. "Come on! Here's your man, with the steel, and three behind
each of you to see fair play!" A wave of the hand indicated Lucian and
the canes' owners on one side, and himself, the cub pilot, and Hugh on
the other. The latter and the players, momentarily together, gave sudden
attention, but again the humor of the situation saved it. The laugh was
general; the young people about the captain, whom his equanimity and
Ramsey's and Mrs. Gilmore's stay had emboldened to linger, drew near;
and the three groups became one.
The twins themselves might have made fair actors, though no one ever had
dared suggest it. Julian scowled on Gilmore and Hugh and half drew the
other cane from his folded arms, but then looked distantly away, while
Lucian with an indolent air said to the younger brother:
"Babe! Hayles never line up on two sides."
To retort, the lad had to snatch Ramsey's fingers from his lips and so
lost his chance, while under her breath she futilely implored him to
desist.
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