True's tone was scornful. For the first time Bobby began to feel angry with her.
'He's my Nobbles, and I like him much better than you.'
He hugged his stick and walked off. True pursued him.
'He's only a stick,' she repeated. 'I could break him in half if I tried!'
'You're a horrid girl, and I wish my father would send you away. You don't belong to him and me at all!'
'You don't belong to us!' cried True excitedly. 'Dad and me always goes out together, and we'll leave you behind. We don't want you at all. We was ever so happy before you came. You'd better go back to that old House of yours. We don't want you!'
It takes so little to make a quarrel. Fiery little True rushed into her mother in a passion of tears, declaring that she hated Bobby and would never play with him again; and Bobby was found some minutes later by Margot lying face downwards in the garden crying as if his heart would break.
'I'll never be happy again. She says I don't belong here,' he sobbed.
Peace was made at last, for Margot took him straight into Mrs. Allonby, who talked to both children as only she could talk, lovingly, gently, but very firmly. When girl and boy were both safely tucked away in bed that night, she said to her husband:
'Oh, Frank, shall we have a divided house?'