"I thought I heard you--one of you--saying it was a pity--umph--a pity I never had--any children ... eh? ... But I have, you know ... I have ..." The others smiled without answering, and after a pause Chips began a faint and palpitating chuckle. "Yes--umph--I have," he added, with quavering merriment. "Thousands of 'em ... thousands of 'em... and all boys."