"Have you been good today?" Amy asks, and there's a great deal of nodding (emphatically, in Susan's case, and solemnly, in Merry's).

"Marta, have they?" Amy asks, of the woman who has followed the children over to the Queen.

"As good as you were, at their age, Princess Amy," says Marta. (Who knew Amy at that age, and who has not bothered to adjust her form of address).

Which would make them good, but not that good.

Which Amy thinks is about right.

"Then," Amy says, drawing the word out, "I think we shall have picnic. And I want you both to meet my friend, Marian, who is going to come with us."

Two small heads turn from their mother to the New Person.

"Hello," Susan says. "I am Susan Marguerite Ingress Calpurnia Rosemary Katharine Anne. And this is Merry."

"You can just call her 'Susan,'" Merry says. "Everyone does."