'With ever so many tucks in it, all put in by the mummy.'
'But Flinders' foots was cold!' shouted the three babies, fixing their mother with six round reproachful eyes.
‘But Flinders’ Foots was cold’
'And a beautiful new sash, with fringes on its ends—oh, babies, such a sash!'
'But Flinders' FOOTS was cold!' literally roared the babies, astounded and perplexed beyond measure at their mother's support of the wrong side. They knew very well the agonies of cold toes, and it was beyond their comprehension how their mother could for a moment think more of the dress, spoilt by an accident, than of the toes.
Then the mother left off defending Mrs. Flinders, and laughed, and getting up went behind the row of agitated babies and kissed each head one after the other, which was a sign that she gave in and agreed with them. 'She needn't have whipped her,' she said soothingly, 'a corner would have done quite as well, and she did deserve that, for she was evidently a careless Polly.'
'And if there didn't was no corner?' suggested June with a boldness of fancy that took everybody's breath away and produced a sudden silence.