"Never!" roared Tom; "we can beat you any day if we choose."
"Then do it, and we will own up; yes, and we will go halves in all the goodies we get off our big tree to-night," added Kitty, bound to stand by her sex and ready to wager a year's bon-bons in the defence of her position.
"By George, I'll do it if the fellows will agree! Honor bright now, and no dodging," said Tom, recklessly pledging himself and friends to any thing and every thing.
"Honor bright," chorused the girls in high glee.
"Only don't be a month about it; you boys are so slow," added Grace, in a superior tone, that ruffled the gentleman at the ventilator.
"We'll do it to-morrow; see if we don't," he cried out, rashly heaping difficulties upon his party.
"Then you'd better set about it at once, and leave us in peace," said Nell, tartly.
"I shall go, ma'am, when I please, and not one minute sooner"—began Tom, with immense dignity; but he did not keep his word; for the sudden withdrawal of his head, followed by a crash and howls of mingled merriment, wrath, and pain, plainly proved
