Me: Harriet’s not letting Dave out of her sight, is she?
Nell: She’s his older sister. She has to keep him safe.
Me: I feel the same way about my sisters.
Nell: And I feel the same way about you.
Me: That’s lovely.
Nell: I don’t know about lovely. It’s extremely tiring.
Me: You don’t have to worry about me.
Nell: Did I, or did I not, hear you saying to Robin this morning that you might just pop into Barks and Spencer to see if there were any lions buying scotch eggs?
Me: I wasn’t going as me, Nell. I was going in disguise.
Nell: Please don’t tell me you’re intending to wear your all-encasing hat?
Me: No. Dave is lending me his sunglasses and I have a long raincoat.
Nell: Are you taking a magnifying glass?
Me: How did you know?
Nell: Because that’s what spies do in cartoons.
Me: Yes.
Nell; Good grief. How many times do I have to tell you that you’re not cut out to be a spy.
Me: I just want to help.
Nell: Then stay here and leave it to the professionals.
Me: Robin thought it was a good idea.
Nell: Robin is being kind.
Me: Yes, I caught him on a kind day. He varies.
Nell: What do you mean?
Me: Some days he’s much nicer than others. He seems to be happier on his fatter days.
Nell: You do know there are two robins, don’t you? I have told you this before.
Me: Oh yes. I’d completely forgotten.
Nell: This is why you cannot be trusted to do things on your own.
Me: Rubbish.
Nell: You’ve no time for spying anyway. You have a writing workshop all afternoon.
Me: Oh yes. Thank goodness you reminded me.
Nell: Exactly.
Me: Sorry.
