"On a Friday," said Sylvia; "but why do you want to know?"
"Then you're loving and giving."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, don't you know the old rhyme?
'Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is a child of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child must work for its living,
But the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is good and truthful and happy and gay.'"
"Where do you learn all these things?" asked Sylvia.
"From our old cook. She's a daleswoman, and she can tell what it means when the candle gutters or the clock stops, or a swarm of bees comes, or you see magpies, or your ear burns, or you sneeze, and what's lucky to do and what's unlucky."
"You are the greatest goose!" said Marian scornfully. "You don't mean to say you believe that silly rubbish? We shouldn't be allowed to talk to our cook at home if she told us such nonsense. You'd better not let Miss Kaye see you throwing salt over your shoulder, or crossing the water when you wash with anybody."
"You always make fun of everything I do," exclaimed Nina plaintively.
"Then you should have more sense," snapped Marian, who prided herself upon being strong-minded.