"Arthur," said Mary, "you can make one contribution to this discussion if you want to. You can tell us what you are really thinking about, so that we needn't waste time trying to guess."
"Why," said he gently, "you know I have quite a knack with animals, taming them and training them, and I was wondering if it would be possible to train a snail. That's what I was thinking about. I have a couple in my pocket at the moment, and——"
"Never mind now," said Mary hurriedly, and she turned to the triplets. "What do you think of what I said?"
"I think it was tortuous and involved," said Lee, "and that it would hardly bear repetition."
"It smacked of paternalism," said Gay. And even Phyllis, her mind upon the convalescing Herring, was moved to speak.
"You said it would be more dignified for some of us to keep to ourselves. Perhaps it would. You said it would be pleasanter for the people who are coming here to stay. I doubt it!"
"Bully for you, old girl," shouted Lee and Gay; "sick her!"
Mary moaned. She was proof against their hostilities, but the language in which they were couched pierced her to the marrow.
"I am sure," she said, "that Maud and Eve will agree with me."
"Of course," said Eve.