"Hannah's getting above herself," said Joan. "She seems to think now Starling's gone she's been promoted to her place."
"We'll let her go a little further," said Nancy, "and then we'll pull her off her perch. What's the weather like? Not raining, is it? I say, we ought to have some fun to-day, Joan. Who shall you stand with?"
The Kencote coverts were to be shot over that day, and the twins were allowed to accompany the guns on such occasions as these.
"I don't know; Uncle Herbert, I think. He's the most amusing."
"Joan, you know quite well I bagged Uncle Herbert in the schoolroom yesterday," said Nancy.
"Did you? I'd forgotten. You can have him in the morning and I'll go with him in the afternoon. I think I shall go with Bobby Trench, and see if he's as clever as he thinks he is."
"You can't, my dear; you're too old. It would be considered forward. Besides, he's an awful little ass."
"That's what I wanted to convey to him. But I think I'll go with Humphrey. He hasn't tipped us for ages, and one of us must attend to business."
"You can't do that either. He'll want that simpering Lady Susan. Joan, I believe there's more in that than meets the eye."
"Penny, please," said Joan, holding out her hand. "You said you would if I caught you saying that again."