"Must it be all out of my own head?"
Miss King hesitated.
"No, if you can remember one that you've read that the others don't know, that would do."
Maudie looked relieved.
"I don't need to remember one," said Hoodie. "I know such heaps. My head's all spinning full of them."
"So's mine," said Duke, jumping about and clapping his hands.
"And mine too," said Hec. "Kite 'pinning full."
"What nonsense," said Hoodie. "You don't know stories. It's only me that does."
"Hush, hush," said Miss King. "My plan won't be nice at all if it makes you quarrel. Now I must run down."
The children were very quiet through breakfast time. Every now and then the little boys leant over across their bowls of bread and milk to whisper to each other.