You girls can be out of it if you like.' His tone was full of contempt, but Jane and Anthea were too tired and desperate to care; even being 'out of it', which at other times they could not have borne, now seemed quite a comfort.

They snuggled down in the sofa blanket, and Cyril threw the fur hearthrug over them.
'Ah, he said, 'that's all women are fit for--to keep safe and warm, while the men do the work and run dangers and risks and things.' 'I'm not,' said Anthea, 'you know I'm not.' But Cyril was gone.
It was warm under the blanket and the hearthrug, and Jane snuggled up close to her sister; and Anthea cuddled Jane closely and kindly, and in a sort of dream they heard the rise of a wave of mewing as Robert opened the door of the nursery.

They heard the booted search for baskets in the back kitchen.

They heard the side door open and close, and they knew that each brother had gone out with at least one cat.

Anthea's last thought was that it would take at least all night to get rid of one hundred and ninety-nine cats by twos.