“I mean, its a kind of Christmas card only it’s a Valentine, I mean.... Well, it had gone out in my day, but I remember your grandmother showing me some that had been sent to her ... dried ferns and flowers pasted on cardboard ... very pretty.”
“Seems sort of silly to me,” said William after silent consideration.
“People were more romantic in those days,” said Mrs. Brown with a sigh.
“Oh, I’m romantic,” said William, “if that means bein’ in love. I’m that all right. But I don’ see any sense in sendin’ pasted ferns an’ dead saints and things.... But still,” determinedly, “I’m goin’ to do all the sort of things they do.”
“What are you talking about, William?” said Mrs. Brown.
Then Ethel came in. She looked angrily at William.
“Mother, William behaved abominably this afternoon.”
“I thought he was rather good, dear,” said Mrs. Brown mildly.
“What did I do wrong?” said William with interest.
“Followed us round everywhere listening to everything we said.”