As his brother did not immediately reply, Hugh saw he had gained an advantage. "Here's a go," said John, looking round in dismay. "Now I shouldn't wonder if you didn't claim the washstand too." "Then I _will_ claim it," said Hugh with a wink. And sure enough Hugh kept the washstand. "Well, I've got my own bed," said John; "you can't take that from under me." Decidedly with lowered spirits he descended to see about the bedstead, unforeseen difficulties in the direction of Agnes looming before him; but the delight of planning how it was to go through the door whole, turned off his thoughts. At last the actual moment arrived. The clothes and mattresses were heaped on Hugh's bed, and they began wheeling it about in fine style. It was just too wide to go through the door, but the boys did not take long to turn it on its side. They had succeeded in almost clearing the back and tallest end, when the banisters proved an insuperable barrier to further progress. "We must take it down," said John. "I'm stuck. I say, John, did you ever happen to mistake your fingers for the painted legs?" "Not that I know of. Look, what a precious mark you've made on the door that side." "Where?" "There! just where you say your fingers grazed it." "It'll come off," said Hugh, applying his pocket-handkerchief, having first conveyed it to his tongue; but it didn't, and Hugh shrugged his shoulders. "Lesson No. 1. Don't knock your fingers," he said. "Lesson No. 2," remarked John. "Do you know how to take down these precious things?" "Lesson No. 3. Shall learn." "Then do go up and get us a screw-driver; if this comes to grief I shall tell Agnes it was all you." "You seem afraid of Agnes," laughed Hugh. "Not at all. But you know we are 'on the spree;' and I don't want to do what she would not like, which would be no spree." The screw-driver was found, and then they began in earnest; but before long the bumps and scrapes brought Jane up from below. "Now, master John, are you gone mad?" she asked. "Don't you say a syllable, Jane, or I'll skin you," said Hugh coaxingly; "it would spoil all our fun." "What on earth are you doing then?" she asked. "I'll call you up to see when we've done; but do leave us now, there's a good soul." She went down again, looking rather scared; but the cook happened to be busy, and did not notice it. The bedstead now lay at their feet in pieces, which they quickly carried upstairs, and by-and-by were able to set up to their great satisfaction. "Well, I call that prime," said Hugh; "now for the clothes and things." These were soon on; and the room began to look "like a room," as John said. "Might that window be grey ground glass, or might it be dirt?" asked Hugh, going up to examine it, and drawing his finger down it. The question did not need answering, for he left a line of clear glass behind him. "Wait till I've got the rest of my furniture up, and then I'll see to things," said John.