"Whatever for?" said Tom.
"You see," said Dash, with his air of modest pride, "I always spend the time thinking how many sheep I could pen into the pews, and how many cows I could get behind the railings. I think it could be seventeen with a squash, but of course, if you left the gate open, the cows would get into the sheep pens; so, when I saw him go out and leave the bar up, I felt I must run and shut it, and I spoke out loud. I didn't really mean to, but father marched us out of church, and he wouldn't let me explain."
"I suppose you oughtn't to have been thinking of cows and sheep in church," said Amy, in her surprised little voice.
"Shut up, Miss Prig," said Dash; and Amy was obediently silent.
"Shall we play together?" said the twins, with one voice.
"It would be jolly," said Tom.—"Wouldn't it, Susie?"
"Well, you mustn't tell your people," they said, "but every morning after your babies go in we might have a jolly game."
"Mother wouldn't mind, would she, Susie?" said Amy.
"We don't want your opinion," said Tom loftily.
Amy blushed till the tears came. "Would she?" she repeated desperately.