'The angel!' said Mrs Ottley.
'You must be careful about that, Edith,' said Bruce solemnly. 'I understand red paint is poisonous.'
'It won't hurt him,' said old Mr Ottley, purely from a spirit of contradiction.
'But he's just as fond of animals,' said Edith quickly, to avert a storm. 'That Noah's Ark you gave him is his greatest pleasure. He's always putting the animals in and taking them out again.'
'Oh, the clever darling!' cried Mrs Ottley. 'You'd hardly believe it, Edith, but Bruce was like that when he was a little boy too. He used to—'
'Oh mother, do shut up!' said Bruce shame-facedly.
'Well, he was very clever,' said Mrs Ottley defiantly. 'You'd hardly think so now perhaps, but the things that child used to say!'
'Don't spoil Archie as his mother spoilt Bruce,' said Mr. Ottley.
'Have you seen the new play at His Majesty's?' asked Bruce.
'No, I haven't. I went to the theatre last year,' said old Mr Ottley. 'I haven't heaps of money to spend on superfluous amusements.'