"Well, anyhow," she continued, "Quinny's much nicer than you are. Aren't you, Quinny?"
"No, he isn't," Ninian asserted stoutly. "I'm ten times nicer than he is!"
"No, you're not...."
Henry, embarrassed at first by Mary's admiration, plucked up his spirits and joined in.
"Of course, I'm nicer than you are, Ninian," he said. "Anybody could see that with half an eye in his head!"
"All right, then, I'll fight you for it," Ninian replied, squaring up at him in mock rage.
"I'll box your ears for you, Ninian Graham!" said Mary, "and I won't let Quinny fight you, and Quinny, if you dare to fight him, I shan't like you any more...."
"Then I won't fight him, Mary. She's saved your life, Ninian," he said, turning to his friend.
"Yahhh!" Ninian shouted.
"I'll get up very early to-morrow morning," said Mary, as she prepared to leave them, "and perhaps mother'll let me drive to Whitcombe with you to see you off!"