Meg waited a moment; she half hoped Pip would come with them, his own merry self again, and offer to “go halves,” but he made no movement.
“I might take it out of the housekeeping money just this once,” she said. “Seven of us,—that would be three-and-six; only, Peter, you mustn’t ask for ice-cream too if you have a custard roll or anything; every one can only have one thing, or it makes it too expensive.”
Pip moved away.
“Won’t you come, Pip?” she said half beseechingly, and catching his coat sleeve.
But he gave her a cold look.
“No, thanks,” he said, and walked off.
So only six of them went to drown their grief in tea and ice-cream.
[180]
]There had been talk of asking Mrs. Hassal to come down and look after Misrule and its inmates for the four months; but then, what would have become of Yarrahappini?
Meg begged her father to have no one. Surely, she said, for that short time she was capable of being head of the house. The cook was a married woman, and would give an air of steadiness to the place; Martha was thoroughly reliable; and Pat had the virtue of doing as he was told. There would be herself and Pip in authority, with Nellie as aide-de-camp; Bunty was a changed character; and as to Poppet, Peter, and Essie, any one with a little tact could manage them.
So it was decided at last, and Meg picked up the reins of government with a pleasurable feeling of responsibility and no misgivings whatever.