"We've been talking it over," said Anna-Felicitas, "and putting two and two together, and perhaps you'll tell us what it was, and then we shall know if we're right." "Perhaps I will," said Mr. Twist, cogitating, as he continued benevolently to gaze at them. "Let's see--" He hesitated, and pushed his hat off his forehead. "I wonder if you'd understand--" "We'll give our minds to it," Anna-Felicitas assured him. "These caps make us look more stupid than we are," Anna-Rose assured him, deducing her own appearance from that of Anna-Felicitas. Encouraged, but doubtful of their capabilities of comprehension on this particular point, Mr. Twist embarked rather gingerly on his explanations. He was going to be candid from now on for the rest of his days, but the preliminary plunges were, he found, after all a little difficult. Even with the pellucidly candid Annas, all ready with ears pricked up attentively and benevolently and minds impartial, he found it difficult. It was because, on the subject of mothers, he feared he was up against their one prejudice. He felt rather than knew that their attitude on this one point might be uncompromising,--mothers were mothers, and there was an end of it; that sort of attitude, coupled with extreme reprobation of himself for supposing anything else. He was surprised and relieved to find he was wrong. Directly they got wind of the line his explanations were taking, which was very soon for they were giving their minds to it as they promised and Mr. Twist's hesitations were illuminating, they interrupted. "So we were right," they said to each other. "But you don't know yet what I'm going to say," said Mr. Twist. "I've only started on the preliminaries." "Yes we do. You fell out with your mother," said Anna-Rose. "Quarrelled," said Anna-Felicitas, nodding "We didn't think so at the time," said Anna-Rose. "We just felt there was an atmosphere of strain about Clark," said Anna-Felicitas. "But talking it over privately, we concluded that was what had happened." Mr. Twist was so much surprised that for a moment he could only say "Oh." Then he said, "And you're terribly shocked, I suppose." "Oh no," they said airily and together. "No?" "You see--" began Anna-Felicitas. "You see--" began Anna-Rose. "You see, as a general principle," said Anna-Felicitas, "it's reprehensible to quarrel with one's mother." "But we've not been able to escape observing--" said Anna-Rose. "In the course of our brief and inglorious career," put in Anna-Felicitas. "--that there are mothers and mothers," said Anna-Rose. "Yes," said Mr. Twist; and as they didn't go on he presently added, "Yes?" "Oh, that's all," said the twins, once more airily and together. CHAPTER XIX After this brief _éclaircissement_ the rest of the journey was happy. Indeed, it is doubtful if any one can journey to California and not be happy.