Ronnie looked shamefaced for a moment.
"Oh! Because we're enemies, you know," he said, flushing redly.
"Enemies! How funny! I never knew before what an enemy was like! But why are you my enemy?" she inquired.
"Oh—" Ronnie hesitated, trying to think of a sufficiently dignified answer. "'Cause we've got to keep up the family food."
"Whatever do you mean?"
The round eyes opened their widest, as the little maid put this question.
Then the boy, thus thrown as it were upon his last resources, sought to explain the situation.
"We're cousins, you know, you and me," he began.
This was indeed news to the child, who had not at present even heard the name of the next door neighbours.
"Are we 'really?'—What is your name?" she inquired.