Laura listened with rapt attention. The explanation of what pilots were was not very illuminating; but then she did not know what pirates were either. So you might think the whole discussion meant very little to her, but there you would be wrong: the question was evidently important to the older ones, therefore she gave her whole mind to listening.

The pirate heresy was considerably shaken. How could they say for certain which word Margaret had really heard? Rachel changed sides.

“They can’t be pirates,” she said. “Pirates are wicked.”

“Couldn’t we ask them?” Edward persisted.

Emily considered.

“I don’t think it would be very polite.”

“I’m sure they wouldn’t mind,” said Edward. “They’re awfully decent.”