"What fun! what fun! We will paddle to your kingdom. If only—if only it wasn't for the tea-things."
"But you can carry the tea-things on your back."
"Why, yes! so I can. Or the servants could."
"Harcourt—no servants. This is my picnic, and my wood. I'm going to settle everything. I didn't tell you: I've got all the food. I've been in the village with Mr. Ford."
"In the village——?"
"Yes, We got biscuits and oranges and half a pound of tea. That's all you'll have. He carried them up. And he'll carry them over the stream. I want you just to lend me some tea-things—not the best ones. I'll take care of them. That's all."
"Dear creature...."
"Evelyn," said Mrs. Worters, "how much did you and Jack pay for that tea?"
"For the half-pound, tenpence."
Mrs. Worters received the announcement in gloomy silence.