Then, quite suddenly, the peaceable quietness of that happy Blackheath home was brought to a close by screams. Servants ran about with brooms and pails, and the water was coming through the ceiling of uncle's room like mad, and Noel turned white and looked at our unattractive cousin and said: "Send him away." Alice put her arm round Noel and said: "Do go, Archibald." But he wouldn't. So then Noel said he wished he had never been born, and whatever would Father say. "Why, what is it, Noel?" Alice asked that. "Just tell us, we'll all stand by you. What's he been doing?" "You won't let him do anything to me if I tell?" "Tell tale tit," said Archibald. "He got me to go up into the loft and he said it was a secret, and would I promise not to tell, and I won't tell; only I've done it, and now the water's coming in." "You've done it? You young ass, I was only kidding you!" said our detestable cousin. And he laughed. "I don't understand," said Oswald. "What did you tell Noel?" "He can't tell you because he promised--and I won't--unless you vow by the honour of the house you talk so much about that you'll never tell I had anything to do with it." That will show you what he was. We had never mentioned the honour of the house except once quite at the beginning, before we knew how discapable he was of understanding anything, and how far we were from wanting to call him Archie. We had to promise, for Noel was getting greener and more gurgly every minute, and at any moment Father or uncle might burst in foaming for an explanation, and none of us would have one except Noel, and him in this state of all-anyhow. So Dicky said-- "We promise, you beast, you!" And we all said the same. Then Archibald said, drawling his words and feeling for the moustache that wasn't there, and I hope he'll be quite old before he gets one-- "It's just what comes of trying to amuse silly little kids. I told the foolish little animal about people having arteries cut, and your having to cut the whole thing to stop the bleeding. And he said, 'Was that what the plumber would do to the leaky pipe?' And how pleased your governor would be to find it mended. And then he went and did it." "You told me to," said Noel, turning greener and greener. "Go along with Alice," said Oswald. "We'll stand by you. And Noel, old chap, you must keep your word and not sneak about that sneaking hound." Alice took him away, and we were left with the horrid Archibald. "Now," said Oswald, "I won't break my word, no more will the rest of us. But we won't speak another word to you as long as we live." "Oh, Oswald," said Dora, "what about the sun going down?" "Let it jolly well go," said Dicky in furiousness. "Oswald didn't say we'd go on being angry for ever, but I'm with Oswald all the way. I won't talk to cads--no, not even before grown-ups. They can jolly well think what they like." After this no one spoke to Archibald.