"Hairy Bittercress," said John.
"I tell you——" went on Margery.
"If you will calm yourself," interrupted John with dignity, "we will discuss the point."
"There's nothing to discuss. What do you know about botany, I'd like to know?"
"My dear child," said John, "when you were an infant-in-arms, nay, before you existed at all, it was my custom to ramble o'er the dewy meads, plucking the nimble Nipplewort and the shy Speedwell. I breakfasted on botany."
"Talking of botany," I broke in "there was a chap in my platoon——"
John groaned loudly.
"Do you suggest," I asked, "that he was not in my platoon?"
"I suggest nothing," he answered; "I only know that they can't all have been in your platoon."
"All who, John?" asked Cecilia.