Mary did not reply. The command to kiss their brother went by default; she hurried her charges through the door to the adjoining night nursery.
When they were started upon undressing she came back.
“You're going to let me see you tub them?” Bob asked her.
Busy replacing toys in cupboards, she did not reply.
“You're not angry, are you?”
She gave him no answer.
Bob Chater discarded the laugh from his tone. “If you are angry, I'm very sorry. You must have known I was only fooling. It was only to make the kids laugh.”
So far as was possible she kept her back to him.
The continued slight pricked him. His voice hardened. “When I have the grace to apologise, I think you might have the grace to accept it.”
Mary said in low tones: “If you meant only to make them laugh, of course I believe you. It is all right.”