He says "No," and so the girl can't go on with croquet, but must begin a new subject.
It is safest to take the subject-headings from an encyclopaedia, and introduce them in alphabetical order.

Allow about ninety to the hour, unless you are brave enough to bear an occasional silence.

If you are, you can reduce this number considerably, and chum doesn't mind a pause in the least, if the girl will only look contented.

If she looks worried, however, Peter gets worried, too.
Just put the old chap between you and your mamma at meals, and pull him over any rough spots that come along.

You, I know, will be able to make it easy for him.