"And you won't ask Mr. Ward?"
"For goodness' sake, Nina, don't be stupid," I answered, "and let me ask what friends I like."
"I shall get mother to ask him if you don't."
Before I had time to reply the train came into the station, and Fred, Jack and I had to work hard to get a compartment to suit Mrs. Faulkner. It took some time to get her properly settled, and after she had thanked Jack once more and wished us all good-bye, Nina came to the carriage-window and said that I was not to forget what she told me.
"Are those papers for us?" she called out as the train started.
I took off my hat and pretended not to hear, for I had completely forgotten to change them, but before I could stop him Jack had taken the bundle out of my hand, and by means of running much faster than I thought possible he got the whole lot into the carriage.
"I felt such a fool on that platform that I never remembered anything," he said, when he came back.
"I wish you had forgotten how to run," I replied, and when Fred told him why I had kept my bundle to myself we managed to talk about the way Mrs. Faulkner would criticize my taste until we separated.