So Sarah watched May mincing with her knife and fork, and conscientiously tried to do likewise, to the infinite amusement of the younger ones, of whom May took no notice whatever, and to whose jibing remarks she showed a superb indifference. "Sarah," shouted Tom, stuffing his mouth so full of pressed tongue and bread-and-butter that Sarah’s heart stood still for fear of his choking, "how many pieces of bread-and-butter can you put into your mouth at once?" "Disgusting boy!" remarked May disdainfully, without giving Sarah time to reply. "You grow more atrociously vulgar every day you live!" "Hi, hi!" shouted Tom, seizing a tablespoon and ramming it down his throat until even boy’s nature revolted and expressed disapproval. "Put that spoon down," cried Miss Clark authoritatively. "If I see you do that again, Tom, you shall not go down to dessert." Now this was almost the only threat by which poor Miss Clark, whose life was one long-continued struggle and fight, was able to hold her own over Tom when he was at home for his holidays. Not going down to dessert meant, not only the punishment of losing a share of the good things below, but also it meant inquiry as to the cause of absence, and other effects according to evidence. Tom’s exuberance of spirits settled down promptly into discreet behaviour, and Miss Clark had time to look round the table. "Johnnie, you are forbidden to eat jam for a week," she burst out. "Minnie, take his plate away." "It’s a shame poor Johnnie isn’t to have any jam," Minnie began whining--"all for nothing, too. It’s a real downright shame, it is," and forthwith she took the opportunity of daubing a thick slice of bread-and-butter with jam off her own plate, and smuggling it into the luckless Johnnie’s hand in such a way that he might eat it upside down, to the intense delight of Tom opposite, who had seen the little manoeuvre, and was bursting to disclose it. For once nodding and winking had no effect, for nobody happened to be looking at him. So Tom, in despair lest such an amusing incident should be altogether lost, began vigorously nudging Flossie, who sat next to him, with his elbow. Flossie, unfortunately, was in the act of raising a large cup of very hot tea to her lips, and Tom’s nudge causing the hot cup to touch her knuckle, made her jerk violently, and over the tea went in a deluge on to her lap.