"I've done," Edmund announced cheerfully, arising from his knees, when Montagu followed suit and rushed downstairs.
"But you didn't say anything."
"We don't say prayers out loud. It's only very little children say them out loud."
"Oh!" she said, as though suddenly enlightened. "Umpy dear says his very loud, but Mr. Woolykneeze looks into his hat like a grown-up genpleman; you can't hear a fing."
"But," Edmund objected, "one hasn't always got a hat in the morning," and opening Mr. Wycherly's door a very little, he called through: "I say, Guardie, do you always say your prayers into a hat?"
"Really, Edmund," said poor Mr. Wycherly, much perturbed by this second interruption, "I do so dislike doors being opened while I am shaving, especially when as in this instance——"
Edmund banged the door.
"I'm sure he doesn't," he said confidently. "He can't, for his hat's downstairs. P'raps that Mr. What's-is-name you mentioned has a special kind."
"Mr. Woolykneeze has hundreds of hats," Herrick announced magnificently.
"What a lot of room they must take up," said Edmund, much impressed.