"Sisters?" said the chief official, stepping forward abruptly.
"Eh?" said Mr. Twist, pausing in the wiping of his forehead.
"These here—" said the official, jerking his thumb at the twins. "They your sisters?"
"No," said Mr. Twist stiffly.
"No," said the twins, with one voice. "Do you think we look like him?"
"Daughters?"
"No," said Mr. Twist stiffly.
"No," said the twins, with an ever greater vigour of repudiation. "You can't really think we look as much like him as all that?"
"Wife and sister-in-law?"
Then the Twinklers laughed. They laughed aloud, even Anna-Rose forgetting her cares for a moment. But they were flattered, because it was at least a proof that they looked thoroughly grown-up.