"It'll be such a great thing to her, and we can cut it a bit shorter," he urged.
With a slight lift of her brows and a smile Bernadette yielded. "Oh, all right, then!"
"How awfully good of you!" he cried. "How awfully good of me!" would have seemed to her an exclamation more appropriate in his mouth at the moment.
The child was sent for, to hear the great news. She came and stood dutifully by her mother's knee, and Bernadette put her arm round her waist.
"Cousin Arthur and I are going for a long drive in the car. We shall take our lunch, and eat it by the road-side, and have great fun. And you're to come with us, Margaret!"
The delighted smile which was expected (by Arthur, at least, most confidently) to illuminate the child's solemn little face did not make its appearance. After a momentary hesitation, Margaret said "Yes, mummy."
"You like to come, don't you, Margaret?"
"Yes, mummy." She looked down and fidgeted her toe on the carpet. "If you wish me to."
"No, dear, I want to know what you wish. Were you going to do something else?"
"Well, Judith had promised to take me with her to Mrs. Beard's this morning, and show me Mrs. Beard's rabbits."