They quickly fed the ducks, and then themselves; and Martin received his usual share, Joscelyn having so far relented that she even advised him as to the best tree for apples in the whole orchard.
After breakfast Martin found six pair of eyes fixed so earnestly upon him that he began to laugh.
"Why do you laugh?" asked little Joan.
"Because of my thoughts," said he. So she took a new penny from her pocket and gave it to him.
"I was thinking," said Martin, "how strange it is that girls are all so exactly alike."
"Oh!" cried six different voices in a single key of indignation.
"What a fib!" said Joyce. "I am like nobody but me."
"Nor am!" cried all the others in a breath.
"Yet a moment ago," said Martin, "you, Mistress Joyce, were wondering with all your might what diversion I had hit upon for this morning. And so were Jane and Jessica and Jennifer and Joan and Joscelyn."
"I was NOT!" cried six voices at once.