“That ... er ... is a ... er ... self-evident proposition that needs no demonstration, as the dogs’-meat man said to the cook when she ... er ... told him he wasn’t a gentleman,” quoted Harry.
“Darlings, isn’t it time for your own tea? And what would Nanny say? You really oughtn’t to come to grown-up tea without washing your hands,” protested Teresa—in vain; for the Doña had already provided each of them with a large slice of cake.
Then Jasper’s roving eye perched upon David, meditatively stirring his tea. He began to snigger: “Silly billy! You can’t make flowers grow. Anna says so.”
“Jasper! Don’t be so silly,” said Anna, reddening.
“But you said so,” whined Jasper.
“What’s this? What’s it all about?” laughed Rory.
“Nothing,” said Anna sulkily.
“Now then; out with it, old thing!”
“Yes, darling, why should Mr. Munroe make flowers grow?”
“Oh, well,” and Anna blushed again, “You see, it was about holy water. I thought if it was really like that Mr. Munroe might bless the water in our watering-can, so that they’d all grow up in the night ... just to show whether it was true or not, you know.”