"Won't Charlie and Margery be excited to hear all about it?" laughed Bella, as she munched in placid content. "We ought to take something home to them."
"We'll take them one of those peppermint walking-sticks," said Tom, "shall we? They love that. I had one once, and Charlie always wanted one like it. I saw some in the market."
"We'll take them one each. Isn't it lovely to have money, and be able to buy things for people?"
"Rather," agreed Tom heartily. "Bell, I'm going to bring something from my garden next week. I've got French beans and marrows ready to cut."
A lady passed, and looked hard at the children and at the baskets standing beside them.
"Flowers, ma'am?" said ready Tom.
The lady paused. "I must see if I have any change," she said, and stood still while she looked in her hand-bag. "Yes, I've just threepence," and she went away carrying two of their remaining bunches.
For a few minutes longer they sat on, loth to move. "My legs are aching a bit, aren't yours?" asked Bella.
Tom nodded. "I shouldn't be sorry if we were at the other end of the five miles, should you?"
"I wish we were," sighed Bella, "and just meeting Charlie and Margery. I wonder if they've started yet?"