Pip could and did. Soon he was handing down the little creature to Daisy, and she cuddled it against her.
"Where does it belong ? " she wondered.
"Probably to Mrs. Minns, the cook," said Pip promptly. "Anyway, it will make a marvellous excuse for going to the kitchen door, and asking!"
"Yes, it will," said Daisy, pleased. So the two of them set off down the drive, and went to the kitchen entrance, which was on the opposite side of the house to the garage.
A girl of about sixteen was sweeping the yard, and from the kitchen nearby there came a never-ending voice.
"And don't you leave any bits of paper flying around my yard, either, Lily. Last time you swept that yard you left a broken bottle there, and half a newspaper and goodness knows what else! Why your mother didn't teach you how to sweep and dust and bake, I don't know! Women nowadays just leave their daughters to be taught by such as me, that's got all their work cut out looking after a particular gentleman like Mr. Hick, without having to keep an eye on a lazy girl like you!"
This was all said without a single pause. The girl did not seem to be paying any attention at all, but went on
sweeping slowly round the yard, the dust flying before her.
"Hallo," said Pip. "Does this kitten belong here?"
"Mrs. Minns!" shouted the girl. "Here's some children with the kitten."