"I was _very_ little," said Cricket, blushing and apologising. "It was as much as three years ago. I haven't answered your question yet, Eunice. I b'lieve I don't want to be a pig, after all, for in the fall the farmer has a teakettle, and sells his pigs, and I'd have to go to the butcher and be killed, and be cut up for sausage."
"I don't seem to get hold of it, yet," said Eunice, wrinkling her forehead. "Hilda, how do you like Marbury?"
"I think it's perfectly lovely," declared Hilda, enthusiastically. "Oh, I forgot to teakettle. I think teakettling is lovely, even if you do get becalmed."
"Teakettling--sailing! Sail is the word," exclaimed Eunice, instantly. "You gave it away, Hilda. I guessed it on you, so you'll have to go out."
"I'll never be able to guess it in the world," said Hilda, looking disappointed.
"I'll take your place," said Will, instantly. "It's about time that Archie sculled. Take hold, old boy, and keep at it."
"Choose a hard one," said Eunice, when Will had duly stopped up his ears. "How would _steal_ do?"
"Yes, or we might have _oar_ and _ore_," said Hilda.
"Scull and skull," said Archie, pensively.
"That's good," said auntie. "Or else bough, and bow of the boat, and bow, to make a bow."
"Let's take that, for there are so many meanings," said Cricket.
"All right. Ready, Will," said Archie, kicking him.
"Edna, how many sandwiches did you eat for luncheon?"
"I ought to make you a teakettle for asking me such an easy question," laughed Edna, "I ate two--I think."
"Whopper!" said Will. "Eunice, why is a crocodile like the North Pole?"
"Because there's a B in both," answered Eunice, promptly. "Will, ask sensible questions, or I'll get a teakettle when I get home, and hit you with it."
"That might be a stone, but stone won't do. Cricket, now think carefully over your answer. If three men work all day on a fertile farm--"
"I'll get Archie to throw you over the teakettle this minute, if you don't stop," threatened Cricket.
"Throw me over the teakettle--over the side--stern--bow. Bow. That's it, young lady. Caught you on that."
And so the game progressed, till they had sufficiently teakettled.
"Suppose we have tableaux, and begin with Cricket for Venus," said Archie, looking at her with his head on one side.