"It sounds loathsome," Bee said.
Nancy waited until they had lingered properly over their coffee and then said: "It has been a very full day for Brat, Bee; and I expect you are all tired. We won't stay now, but you'll come over and see us when you can crawl out from under the crush, won't you, Brat?"
Simon fetched her wraps and they all went out to the doorstep to see their guests off. On the doorstep Nancy took off her evening shoes, tucked them under her arm, and stepped into a pair of Wellingtons that she had left behind the door. Then she tucked her other arm under her husband's, huddled close to him under their single umbrella, and walked away with him into the night.
"Good old Nancy," Simon said. "You can't keep a Ledingham down." He sounded just a little drunk.
"Dear Nan," Bee said softly. She moved into the living-room and surveyed it in an absent fashion.
"I think Nan is right," she said. "It is time we all went to bed. It has been an exciting day for all of us."
"We don't want it to end so soon, do we?" Eleanor said.
"You have La Parslow at nine-thirty to-morrow," Simon reminded her. "I saw it in the book."
"What were you doing with the riding book?"
"I like to see that you're not cheating on your income tax."