"But if they get sticky with jam," said Dick, "they lose their privilege for a week."
"And any one who drops crumbs on the carpet must have tea with us in the schoolroom for a week," said Nancy.
The subject was discussed at some length on those lines until Mrs. Clinton sent the twins up to take off their hats, when their elders still went on discussing them.
"So you've chosen the blue-stocking, mother," said Dick.
"Yes; she is coming next week," said Mrs. Clinton.
"Mother didn't want anybody dangerously attractive about the house," said the Squire, hastening to take up that subject, which was continued until the twins returned, when they were allowed to dominate the conversation to an unusual degree.
But at last the time came when the Squire had always been accustomed to say, "Well, we'll go into my room and have a cigar," or to go out without saying anything, with the certainty of Dick's following him. He could not now go out of the room without saying anything, for that would have amounted to a declaration made before the children that he did not want Dick's company, and he shirked the usual formula which would precipitate the "talk" that he dreaded.
Dick relieved him for the time being. "I'll go into the smoking-room and write a few letters," he said.
"Ah, well, I'll go into my room and smoke a cigar," said the Squire, making a move.
Mrs. Clinton asked Joan to ring the bell. "They may not have lit the fire in the smoking-room," she said.