"Yes, I've heard that," said Dick, "although I don't admire your way of describing her. Lord, what a place to put a horse!"
"If it is the expression 'top-hole' you object to, I learnt it from you," said Nancy. "My ears are receptive."
"Two loose-boxes and three stalls," said Dick. "We can make that do, but they're all on the slant. We'd better begin by altering this at once; the house can wait for a bit."
"Of course the stables are more important than the house," said Joan. "I say, Dick, there is something we want to ask you. Do be a brick and say, yes."
Dick was pursuing his investigations. "Coach-house isn't bad," he said. "Harness-room wants refurnishing. Let's see what the rooms upstairs are like."
They climbed up the steep staircase. "Dick, will you persuade father to do something?" asked Joan.
"What?" asked Dick. "This would be all right for an unmarried groom."
"We want a pony. We've never had anything to ride since poor old Tommy died."
They were clattering down the stairs again. "You want—you want—you want everything," said Dick. "You'll want a four-in-hand next. I don't know whether you want a pig-stye, by any chance. I'll give you this one if you do—ridiculous place to put it! This is where we'll build the game larder. Come on, Twankies, we'll go and look up old Aunt Laura. I want to see what she's taken away from here."
He set off at a smart pace, the twins on either side of him. "I don't know why you want to go putting your oar in about the pony," said Nancy. "I was to tackle father about that."