‘Oh, I dare say it’s just as much mine.’
Magnanimous Charlie.
‘Oh no, he’s so beastly to you. I think he’s a horrid boy.’
‘Rot! What do you know about it?’ he said indignantly. ‘He’s ripping and he’s jolly clever too. Much cleverer than me. He thinks I’m an awful ass.’
‘Oh, you’re not.’
‘Well he thinks so,’ he said gloomily. ‘I expect I am.’
It was terrible to see him so depressed.
‘I don’t think so, Charlie.’ Then fearfully plunging: ‘I wish you were my brother.’
He hurled a pebble, watched it strike the water, got up to go and said charmingly:
‘Well, I wish you were my sister.’