Me: Not Poppy’s Palace?
Nell: Yes. During negotiations a couple of Beefies gained entrance to the living room and tore Poppy’s Palace to pieces.
Me: That’s dreadful. She loved her den.
Nell: We know. Just when we thought we were making progress they do something like this.
Me: The villains. I didn’t hear anything and I was only upstairs.
Nell: Yes. Unfortunately you were writing so you wouldn’t have heard anything.
Me: How did it all go with Malcolm and Susan?
Nell: They both declared their love for one another. Not a dry eye in the house. Even Stephen Seagull shed a tear, although it was probably cocker spaniel tears.
Me: Don’t you mean crocodile tears?
Nell: No. What on earth have crocodiles got to do with anything? Everyone knows cockers can cry at the drop of a hat.
Me: I didn’t know that. So, has Stephen Seagull accepted Malcolm?
Nell: He seemed to at first but then he said he should be the one to walk Susan down the aisle.
Me: The cheek of it.
Nell: Yes. Well, Susan wasn’t having it. She was wearing her little grey cloak and bonnet but when she got up on the table she had the authority of a queen.
Me: Gosh. On the table. How daring.
Nell: She said Humphrey was the only father she had ever known and nobody else was going to take his place.
Me: Good for her. What did Stephen Seagull say?
Nell: “We shall see about that.” And then he left.
Me: I hope he got pelted with rock cakes.
Nell: Not exactly. There was a problem with the rock cakes.
Me: Why?
Nell: Gladys loves Marmite. Let’s just say she won’t be fitting into her fighting suit any time soon.
Me: Oh dear. Sorry.
