At four o’clock the business of the day was over and Mary-Clare was ready to start. Then Noreen, with the perversity of children, complicated matters.
“Motherly, let me go, too,” she pleaded.
“Childie, Mother wants to be alone.”
“Why for?”
“Because, well, I must think.”
“Then let me stay home with Jan-an.”
“Dearie, I’m going to send Jan-an back here.”
“Why for?”
“Mary-Clare,” Peter broke in, “that child is perishing for a paddling.”