Fortified by my idea, but at the same time rather nervous, because I knew that unless you are a master and the other person happens to be a boy it is much easier to talk about a plain understanding than to arrive at it, I strolled on to the lawn, and after taking a circuitous route I sat down by Nina. I had got her at a disadvantage because she was reading a book which my mother had said was good for her, and if I sat there long enough and bounced a tennis-ball up and down in front of me I knew she was bound to talk. For some reason or other I did not feel like beginning, and this disinclination did not come from chivalry, but I must confess from fear, Nina being armed with all sorts of weapons which if I had possessed I should not have known how to use.
"You seem to be very busy," she said after I had bounced my ball up and down two hundred and eleven times without missing it. I took no notice of that remark except to count out loud. "Twelve, thirteen, fourteen" I went on carefully, and when I was half-way through fifteen she threw her hat at the ball and, by a miracle, hit it.
"You are as big a baby now as you were ten years ago," she said.
"I only wish you were," I answered, and threw the ball away from me.
"So that I might everlastingly fetch and carry for you and Fred," she replied quickly.
"That isn't true," I retorted; "at least if it is true of me it isn't of Fred. He always treats you well."
"You will talk to me about Fred until I shall positively hate him."
"I want to talk about him now," I said.
"Of course you do, he is your favourite topic of conversation," and really I believe she knew that if she attacked me I should forget to talk about Fred.
"You don't seem to see what a friend he is of mine," I answered.