When John had gone, Mrs. Bates called him.

‘Frank!’ He had been preparing to go round the side of the wash-house into the garden. ‘Come here, son. You didn’t tell me you’d met the doctor’s kids?’

He looked at her warily. ‘No, mam.’

‘As if I didn’t know why! You thought I’d give you the edge of my tongue if you did. I ought to do it, any road, for your being deceitful. You’re a queer lad. Maybe you’ll find some day that being straight’s as important as being clever. Perhaps you’ll learn somewhat from this John lad. He’s a straight one; I like the looks of him. If the rest of the family’s the same, it won’t do you any harm to mix with them.’

Frank said: ‘They’re all right.’

‘And you’ll have to learn to do things the right way if you’re going to get on in life. You might as well learn from other children. The only thing is: if you are going to mix with kids of that kind, mix equal. Don’t let them turn up their noses at you, at any time. Not that John would, I shouldn’t think. But you watch you don’t let it happen.’

Frank said: ‘Yes, mam. I’ll watch.’