He told Dilly about them, but Dilly was not his audience--she was rather his confidante and literary adviser; or even sometimes his collaborator.

His public consisted principally of his mother.

It was a convention that Edith should be frightened, shocked and horrified at the creatures of his imagination, while Dilly privately revelled in their success.

Miss Townsend, the governess, was rather coldly ignored in this matter.

She had a way of speaking of the animals with a smile, as a nice occupation to keep the children quiet.