“Right-o! But you can send me into another room. I needn’t go home, need I?”
She laughed.
“Oh, you silly boy! Of course not.”
“I say, have you seen my report?” he asked gravely.
“Some of it. Your mother read out little bits.”
“Which little bits?” he asked rather anxiously.
“Oh, the worst of course!” said Bertha. “The purple patches! You’re a credit to the family, I don’t think!”
“She asked me who was my nicest little friend at school,” said Clifford.
“And what did you say?”
“I told her about Pickering. I say, Bertha, … can I bring Pickering here?”