"Yes," said mamma. "You were right as to the number of pigs, Max, but Dolly was right as to the number of black creatures she counted, for Nigger was there. So you were wrong in your counting, Max, and Dolly was wrong in the number of pigs, and so—"
"Both were right and both were wrong," cried the children together, "like the people who quarrelled about the shield!"
"Just fancy!" said Dolly.
"It is queer!" said Max.
And when they got to the gate and stood looking at the pigs—I think Dolly preferred keeping the gate between her and them—they counted again, and this time there were only twelve! For Nigger was standing meekly at his master's heels, having been whipped for his misdemeanours of the day before.
"Any way, mamma," said Dolly, as they made their way home again after a pleasant little walk, "it shows how silly it is ever to quarrel, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does," Max agreed.
And you may be sure mamma was quite of the same opinion!
