`` If Prince likes any billiard-playing boy better than Archie , I do n't think much of his sense , '' she said severely . `` Of course he does n't ; but , you see , Charlie and Arch are both as proud as they can be , and wo n't give in . I suppose Arch is right , but I do n't blame Charlie a bit for liking to be with the others sometimes , they are such a jolly set , '' and Steve shook his head morally , even while his eye twinkled over the memory of some of the exploits of the `` jolly set . '' `` Oh , dear me ! '' sighed Rose , `` I do n't see what I can do about it , but I wish the boys would make up , for Prince ca n't come to any harm with Archie , he 's so good and sensible . '' `` That 's the trouble ; Arch preaches , and Prince wo n't stand it . He told Arch he was a prig and a parson , and Arch told him he was n't a gentleman . My boots ! were n't they both mad , though ! I thought for a minute they 'd pitch into one another and have it out . Wish they had , and not gone stalking round stiff and glum ever since . Mac and I settle our rows with a bat or so over the head , and then we are all right . '' Rose could n't help laughing as Steve sparred away at a fat sofa-pillow , to illustrate his meaning ; and , having given it several scientific whacks , he pulled down his cuffs and smiled upon her with benign pity for her feminine ignorance of this summary way of settling a quarrel . `` What droll things boys are ! '' she said , with a mixture of admiration and perplexity in her face , which Steve accepted as a compliment to his sex . `` We 're a pretty clever invention , miss , and you ca n't get on without us , '' he answered , with his nose in the air . Then , taking a sudden plunge into business , he added , `` How about that bit of money you were going to lend me ? I 've told , now you pay up . '' `` Of course I will ! How much do you want ? ''
and XXXXX pulled out her purse .
Arch Archie Charlie Rose Steve minute prig right sofa-pillow whacks