"Be quiet, then."
"I will now, but wait till I catch you afterwards!" and Robin, throwing her an indignant glance, applied himself so diligently to his bread and butter, that he had no opportunity for further remarks; while Patty, wisely ignoring the quarrel, turned the conversation back to the safer channel of her future experiences, which at present seemed the most absorbing topic they could have to discuss.
"There'll be a great many more girls there than at Miss Dawson's," she began.
"How many?" asked Milly.
"I believe there are about seventy, and at least half of them will be older than I am. Muriel says some of the top class have turned eighteen, and wear their hair up. I shall only be one of the younger ones."
"How funny!" giggled the children. "Will they give you easy lessons, then?"
"Compound addition and the first declension?" suggested Robin.
"Or spelling and tables?" said Wilfred.
"Will Patty do pot-hooks and learning to read, like me?" said Kitty.
"You will find it easier, though, if you're one of the youngest, won't you?" said Milly.