So Laddie wrote it, and she looked at it a long time, it seemed to me, at last she said: "I don't like that 'get.' It doesn't sound right. Wouldn't 'are' be better?"
"Come when you are ready," repeated Laddie. "Yes, that's better. 'Get' sounds rather saucy."
"Why not put it, 'Come when you choose?'" suggested mother. "That will leave a word to spare, so it won't look as if you had counted them and used exactly ten on purpose, and it doesn't sound as if you expected him to make long preparations, like the other. That will leave it with him to start whenever he likes."
"Yes! yes!" cried Shelley. "That's much better! Say, 'Come when you choose!'"
"Right!" said Laddie as he wrote it. "Now I'll take this!"
"Oh no you won't!" cried Leon. "Father told me to saddle my horse. She's got enough speed in her to beat yours a mile. I take that! Didn't you say for me to saddle, father?"
"Such important business, I think I better," said Laddie, and Leon began to cry.
"I think you should both go," said Shelley. "It is so important, and if one goes to make a mistake, maybe the other will notice it."
"Yes, that's the best way," said mother.
"Yes, both go," said father.