Page:Wren--The young stagers.djvu/21



Chief in silence strode before and reached the torrent's sounding shore. The torrent was provided by the bath-room water-tap, and did very well. Too well, Ayah thought, when she returned from her meal and siesta. The Chief strode in silence and little else, as his tartan plaid was a piece of tartan ribbon and his kilt a brief petticoat—brief even for this little girl of eight. Fitz-James in silence strode behind, and then spoilt everything by breaking the silence and becoming a brass band. Association of ideas, no doubt, for when he marched behind the President he was usually a band, procession, Greek Chorus, or a general choral atmosphere.

"Shut up, Fizz-James, you 'normous ass," hissed the Chief, casting a fiery eye over her 3