“I sha’n’t tell you anything. Go and ask, if you dare,” said Harry, only too glad to have the tables turned.
Polly’s expedition met with the same fate, and she attempted to cover her retreat in a similar manner.
“Ah! you didn’t tell.”
“I don’t believe you asked Papa.”
“Don’t you? Very well!”
“Well, did you?”
“Never mind.”
Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Meanwhile Mr Skratdj scolded Mrs Skratdj for not keeping the children in better order. And Mrs Skratdj said it was quite impossible to do so, when Mr Skratdj spoilt Harry as he did, and weakened her (Mrs Skratdj’s) authority by constant interference.
Difference of sex gave point to many of these nursery squabbles, as it so often does to domestic broils.