"You can't be more surprised than we were," said Nancy—the twins generally spoke alternately. "She broke it to us in floods of tears this afternoon. Joan cried too."
"So did you," retorted Joan. "You blubbered like a seal."
"And it did me credit," said Nancy, accepting the charge with complete equanimity.
"What is she going for?" asked Dick.
"She has to go and look after her sister, poor old thing!" said Joan. "And she doesn't think she knows enough to take us on any further."
"We denied it hotly, to comfort her," continued Nancy. "But it's quite true. We have the brains of the family, and are now going to leave childish things behind us. I wish you'd make your watch ring, Dick."
Dick pressed the spring of his repeater, and the twins listened to its tinkle in silence. Nancy sighed when he put it into his pocket. "Even that isn't the treat that it used to be," she said. "We are getting too old for these simple pleasures. Joan is beginning to take an interest in dress, and I am often to be seen absorbed in a book. Dick, shall you kiss Miss Bird when you say good-bye? There's nothing she would love better."
"When is she going?" asked Dick, ignoring the question.
"In about a week," Joan replied. "Dick, I think you ought to kiss her, if you possibly can. You are the eldest, and nearer her heart than any of us. She told us so."
"I'll give you both a kiss and you can pass it on," said Dick, with an arm round each. "Come along down."