the boys ate the bread and milk , passing the bowl round the bed in a companionable way , dribbling on the covers and vying with one another to tell him the news of the household : nasonby had fallen down the front stair and had to have his ankle strapped up ; cook had had a disagreement with the fishmonger , who sent plaice instead of salmon , and so the fishmonger would n't bring any more fish , and so supper last night was pancakes and they all pretended it was shrove tuesday ; lucy the spaniel had had her pups in the bottom of the upstairs linen closet , and mrs. weston the housekeeper had had a fit- `` did she fall down and foam at the mouth ? ''