Joey Bettany, for nearly twelve years now Joey Maynard, plumped herself down on the edge of a big, empty packing-case and—promptly doubled up and disappeared into it! Her wild screams brought her triplet daughters flying from the nursery farther along the corridor, where they had been busy dismantling the first of their beloved dolls’ houses, to stand goggling at her. They also brought her adopted sister, Robin Humphries, from the linen-room, where she had been equally busy, sorting out pillowcases. Robin’s reaction was to double up also—with wild laughter.
‘Ow—ow!’ shrieked Jo. ‘Help me out, someone—help me out! Robin! Don’t stand there giggling like the village idiot! Come and give me a hand! I’m all doubled up and my arms are caught and I can’t get out by myself!’