“Called——?”
“Fancy you not knowin’ about King John’s servants bein’ called Dam an’ Blarst!”
“I did know,” said Georgie, “I’ve known it for ever so long.... What did you say they were called?”
“Dam and Blarst.”
“Dam and Blarst. Of course I knew.”
“Well, let’s get you ready for bein’ King John.... S’no good goin’ on as King John lookin’ like that when you’re s’posed to’ve just come out of a bog looking for your things ... no one’d give anyone a prize for that.”
“I’m not going to get myself all muddy, so there!”
“All right,” said William, “I’ll be King John. I don’t care.”
“No, I’m going to be King John,” persisted Georgie.
“Well, you can’t be King John,” said William firmly, “if you don’t get yourself a bit muddy like what he was when he come back from losin’ his things in the Wash. It’ll easy come off afterwards. Jus’ take off your shoes an’ stockings an’ paddle about a bit at the edge of the pond. You needn’t mess up anythin’ but jus’ your feet.”