“I began to think you meant me to have tea alone,” he said. “Have they been doing any work, Bob, or couldn't you keep them in hand at all?”
“Oh, they've been working,” Bob answered. “I told Sarah not to give them any afternoon tea if they didn't, and it acted like a charm.”
“You to talk!” said Norah, with tilted nose. “They said they'd sample the new deck chairs, dad, and it took them about an hour to make sure if they liked them—they just smoked while Tommy and I toiled.”
“Well, you'd only have been annoyed with us if we hadn't done the sampling properly, and had grumbled afterwards,” said Wally. “I'm always trying to teach you to be thorough, Norah. Of course, they say they work all the time, sir—but when they disappear into Tommy's room there's an awful lot of talking.”
“There would be something wrong with them if there weren't,” said the squatter sagely. “And I have no doubt there yet remains much awaiting their expert supervision in Tommy's room.” Whereat Tommy and Norah beamed at him, and commended him as a person of understanding, while Wally remarked feelingly to Bob that there was no chance of justice where those two females were concerned. At this point Jim observed that the conversation showed signs of degenerating into a brawl, and that, in any case, it was time the horses were let go. They trotted off to the stables, a light-hearted body.
Tommy slipped her arm into Bob's as they went upstairs to dress.
“Come into my room and talk for a moment.”
He came in and sat down in a low chair by the window.
“Your quarters at the new place won't be as big as this, old girl.”
“They'll be bigger, for it will all be ours,” rejoined Tommy promptly. “Who wants a big room, anyway? I don't. Bobby, I'd be hard to please if I wanted more than I've got.”