"Fathers," said Rosie, "could knit very well if they tried, but they won't try."
"Come," I said, "I won't compete with you in knitting, but I'm game to bet you've done seven feet six inches in length already."
"All right," said Helen, "we'll bet a penny. Only remember, mine was only six feet yesterday and Rosie's was four inches shorter."
I spread the fabrics on the floor and set to work with a tape measure. The first result was, Helen five feet eleven inches; Rosie five feet six inches.
"This," I said, "is maddening. You are imitating Penelope."
"I don't know about Penelope," said Helen, "but you haven't straightened them out enough."
I smoothed them out carefully and measured again. This time the result was, Helen six feet two inches; Rosie five feet ten inches.
"Capital!" I said; "I will do some more smoothing."
"No," said Helen, "that won't be fair to Lady French or our soldiers. We must give them an inch or so over, if anything;" and they picked up the unfinished mufflers and set to work at them with renewed energy.