“This comes of not moving about,” said Trot.
“Of not looking about,” said Pansy.
“And of not picking up something every day,” said Satchel. “And a worse example I, for one, never came across.”
“Nor I!” “Nor I!” echoed the other sisters.
Whereupon they all looked at Peterkin, and seemed dreadfully serious.
“Why, whatever have I done?” he demanded.
“That’s just it!” said the sisters. “What have you done?”
“Nothing!” exclaimed Peterkin, quite with the intention of justifying himself. “Nothing at all!”
“Ah!” said Trot, “that is the truth, indeed; whatever else may be wrong—done nothing at all!”
“Nothing!” “Nothing!” repeated Satchel and Pansy, in a breath.