‘Must take us as you find us,’ admonished Mr. Fairfield. ‘We’re homely folk with no airs. No education to speak of. Couldn’t afford it. And now that we can afford it—it’s too late.’
‘Not too late for Edward, father dear,’ Edward’s mother reminded him.
‘Ah no. One scholar in the family at any rate.’
‘One scholar, three agnostics, and a religious crank, eh, dad?’ remarked Hypatia.
Her father laughed.
‘Heard the news?’ He turned to Sheila. ‘Hypatia’s saved. Got a new religion. Mine wasn’t good enough for her.’
‘What is yours, dad? I didn’t know you had one.’
‘When you and Edward were nippers I told you my religion. Be afraid of nothing except doing wrong. That’s mine. Everything in the garden’s lovely: that’s yours.’
‘Well, stop arguing all of you, and come to tea,’ said Mrs. Fairfield. ‘Sheila must be ready for hers, I’m sure. Have you met Bunny, Sheila?’
‘No. Who’s Bunny?’