Percy was about to respond when he felt a tugging on his robes. He looked down to see Lucy's smiling face and her hand held out with a handful of flowers complete with roots intact. "Daddy, do you think we can plant these at home? They're pretty and would look nice under the window."
He looked from her to the flower beds and finally spotted where she had uprooted the flowers from and groaned softly. "Lucy, what did I tell you about taking flowers from the public garden? You've gone and gotten dirty, too."
"But Daddy, they're pretty. Maybe your friend would like some."
He looked apologetically up at Richard. "This is Mister Summersby, and I don't think he would like some right now. I think they'd be much prettier in the garden, don't you agree Mr. Summersby?" His eyes held a note of desperation and he hoped Richard would play along for now.