Mona turned round.
"This is one of them, Miss Falkner. Shake hands with this lady, Jill."
Jill kept her hands behind her back.
"They're sticky," she said, staring at Miss Falkner in wonder.
"Never mind," said Miss Falkner with a smile. "You are fond of peppermints, are you?"
Jill stared the harder, then she said—
"How did you know? Cook gave them to me. She said they were good for a cold."
"You do look a little object," said Mona, drawing Jill to her, and smoothing her hair as she spoke. "She is the eldest, Miss Falkner, then comes Jack, then Winnie. They are very backward for their ages, I am afraid, but you will remedy that."
Jill's blue eyes scanned Miss Falkner up and down. "Who was she?" she wondered.
"Can you read, dear?" asked Miss Falkner.