"Wouldn't they? I've got a truly Irish reputation here."
"Well, no one could believe you wouldn't tell for a whole fortnight when everyone was being punished, anyway."
"Doris and Roma hinted that quite a lot of people found it easy enough to believe," Noreen said bitterly. "No, shut it, Joey; I've settled, I'm going to do it. You ought to be pleased; you'll be able to go to your cousin's again—didn't you say they'd asked you for Sunday?"
"Don't be a pig, Noreen!"
"Pax, old thing, I didn't mean it. Of course, you won't like my doing it, I know; but it is a way out. Get Gabrielle to take Syb for her other friend if she will; Syb's wild to go...."
"Noreen, will you promise, honour! not to go telling Miss Conyngham you were the one till after Prep at least?" poor Joey urged in desperation. "Oh, do promise, Noreen."
"What's the good of waiting, you cuckoo?"
"Oh, the real girl might speak—or I might find a way out."
"The cheek of you! Because you got a scholarship, you think...."