‘I got the ring,’ said Kenneth.
‘Never mind about the ring, dear,’ said the aunt, taking his boots off.
‘But you said I was a thief and a liar,’ Kenneth said feebly, ‘and it was in the moat all the time.’
‘Mother!’ it was Alison who shrieked. ‘You didn’t say that to him?’
‘Of course I didn’t,’ said the aunt impatiently. She thought she hadn’t, but then Kenneth thought she had.
‘It was me took the ring,’ said Alison, ‘and I dropped it. I didn’t say I hadn’t. I only said I’d rather not say. Oh Mother! poor Kenneth!’
The aunt, without a word, carried Kenneth [p258 up to the bath-room and turned on the hot-water tap. The uncle and Ethel followed.
‘Why didn’t you own up, you sneak?’ said Conrad to his sister with withering scorn.
‘Sneak,’ echoed the stout George.
‘I meant to. I was only getting steam up,’ sobbed Alison. ‘I didn’t know. Mother only told us she wasn’t pleased with Ken, and so he wasn’t to go to the picnic. Oh! what shall I do? What shall I do?’