"Because we're dead sick of rows," said Maddie sulkily. "There were nothing but rows till Tommy came. No governess would stay; they simply couldn't stand mother. Then at last Tommy turned up, and we saw what a decent old sort she was, so we thought out our plans, and now we do get our fun somehow, and as long as we hold our tongues at meals, it's all right."
"Well, I'm very sorry for you," said Millie, "but I think it would be much simpler to say what you mean. The strongest always wins. If you stuck together, they would have to give in."
The girls laughed sardonically. "You don't know mother," they said.
"Well, we shall soon see," said Barbie, who was the silent one of the five. "Let Millie try her way, and see what happens."
Millie laughed. "I certainly shan't try yours," she said.
"But you won't side against us with mother?" suddenly said Gwen.
"Rather not. That isn't my way."
"Are you never afraid of anybody?" asked Theo earnestly.
"Of course not; what can people do?" contemptuously asked the girl who had been sjambokked.
Theo cuddled up against this new champion as if the sense of strength were pleasant to her.