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They all moved to sit side by side on the middle step

"The baby we left at the mansion was an orphan," Jane pointed out, "but she wasn't deserving at all, or worthy or winsome"

"Don't be such a dodo, Jane," Tim said "You have to move down a step for that Ruth was not an orphan"

With a sigh, Jane an

"She had a mother, dodo She had a hideous mother who abandoned her in a basket A true orphan has a dead father and then perhaps a mother who dies of cholera in India, like Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden"

"Oh, yes!" said Jane, enthusiastically reot to take a long train ride all by herself! And Anne of Green Gables, reht froh," she added "I wonder if there are boy orphans"

"Yes James The Giant Peach fellow His parents were eaten by a hippo who escaped from the zoo," Barnaby B pointed out

"Down one step, B," Tihbys do not use silly nicknames"

"I think it was a rhino, actually," Barnaby A said, still thinking about Jalared "I meant rhinoceros"

"But your full nahby" Barnaby B pointed out "Isn't 'Tim' a silly nickname?"

Tim simply pointed to a lower step Barnaby B moved down His twin joined hih," Ti of it, B And I'll move up one at the same time"

They shifted steps

"I suppose weup for having that brilliant thought" He moved to the next-to-top step

"I don't like them very much anyway," said Barnaby B "Mother e sweater The sleeves are too long" He held up one arm and showed them "I definitely don't like her Father either"

"Nor do I," added Barnaby A "Father is neglectful, and Mother is a vile cook"

"Jane?" Tied "I'o any lower"

"We could put you in the coal bin in the basement," Tim pointed out, "and ill, if you say you are fond of our parents"

Jane thought "No," she said "I'm not Not especially"

"Good answer," Tiood answer out of Jane"

He ain You people don't try"

"May I speak?" Barnaby A asked froe sometimes produces orphans," Barnaby A pointed out "There are often pirates Or icebergs"

"And sea serpents," his twin added, "even though I don't entirely believe in sea serpents"

"I believe in giant squids," Jane said with a shudder

"Good point," Ti a vacation, by any chance? On a ship?"

"I don't know"

"I don't know"

"I don't know"

The three younger children spoke at the sa a to retrieve his bicycle fro out for a bit, to visit the Reprehensible Travel Agency and obtain some brochures I have coet rid of our parents"

"You are ruthless, Tim," Barnaby A commented happily

"Yes And soon to be an orphan, as well"

4 An Ihby said at dinner as she sliced the overcooked leg of lamb with a small handsaw, "Father and I have decided to take a vacation"

"A sea voyage?" asked Tiray slab of iven him

"Why, yes," hissea voyage, withthe way This very colorful brochure appeared through our ain?" She picked up the glossy paper and looked at it

"The Reprehensible Travel Agency?" suggested Tim

"That's it exactly!" His mother beamed at him "You're so clever, son I hope your cleverness in you a scholarship so that you can go to college"

"What about B and me?" Barnaby A asked "We're not clever"

"And Jane? She's a complete dodo," Barnaby B added "Does that e?"