“Just fancy how dreadful it would be for her if she came back and found only one left,” said Maisie, touching the little round heads softly with her finger. “I am so glad they’re not to be drowned.”
“I’m tremendously glad we’re going to keep the black one ourselves,” said Dennis. “What do you think of the name of Smut?”
“I don’t like it a bit,” said Maisie.
They had got no further towards a name by breakfast time. All those which Maisie liked, Dennis thought silly, and those which Dennis proposed, Maisie thought ugly, so it promised to be a difficult matter to settle. As soon as they were seated at breakfast, however, Aunt Katharine made a suggestion which put the black kitten out of their heads for the present.
“Children,” she said, “I am going to drive over to Haughton Park to lunch this morning. If you like, you may both go with me and see Philippa.”
There was a moment’s pause, and then Dennis asked seriously:
“Shall you go anywhere besides, Aunt Katharine, or just straight there?”
“I shall only stop at Mrs Broadbent’s on my way,” she replied, “to ask about so some fowls.”
The children looked at each other, but made no answer.
“Well,” said their aunt, smiling, “I dare say you’d like to talk it over together. I shall start at twelve o’clock, and if you decide to go, you must be ready to the minute, for I shall not wait for you. Do just as you like about it.”