'Don't be angry,' said Anthea, soothingly, 'we only wanted to ask
you to let us have the carpet. We have quite twelve shillings
between us, and--'

'How DARE you?' cried Mrs Biddle, and her voice shook with
angriness.

'You do look horrid,' said Jane suddenly.

Mrs Biddle actually stamped that booted foot of hers. 'You rude,
barefaced child!' she said.

Anthea almost shook Jane; but Jane pushed forward in spite of her.

'It really IS our nursery carpet,' she said, 'you ask ANY ONE if it
isn't.'

'Let's wish ourselves home,' said Cyril in a whisper.

'No go,' Robert whispered back, 'she'd be there too, and raving mad
as likely as not. Horrid thing, I hate her!'

'I wish Mrs Biddle was in an angelic good temper,' cried Anthea,
suddenly. 'It's worth trying,' she said to herself.

Mrs Biddle's face grew from purple to violet, and from violet to
mauve, and from mauve to pink. Then she smiled quite a jolly
smile.

'Why, so I am!' she said, 'what a funny idea! Why shouldn't I be