To begin with, there was only just time for Peter and Bobbie and Phyllis to rush into the wash-house, pushing the young and open-mouthed Perks children in front of them.

There was not time to shut the door, so that, without at all meaning it, they had to listen to what went on in the kitchen.

The wash-house was a tight fit for the Perks children and the Three Chimneys children, as well as all the wash-house's proper furniture, including the mangle and the copper.
"Hullo, old woman!" they heard Mr.Perks's voice say; "here's a pretty set-out!" "It's your birthday tea, Bert," said Mrs.Perks, "and here's a ounce of your extry particular.

I got it o' Saturday along o' your happening to remember it was your birthday to-day." "Good old girl!" said Mr.Perks, and there was a sound of a kiss.
"But what's that pram doing here?
And what's all these bundles?
And where did you get the sweetstuff, and--" The children did not hear what Mrs.Perks replied, because just then Bobbie gave a start, put her hand in her pocket, and all her body grew stiff with horror.
"Oh!" she whispered to the others, "whatever shall we do?
I forgot to put the labels on any of the things! He won't know what's from who.
He'll think it's all US, and that we're trying to be grand or charitable or something horrid." "Hush!" said Peter.
And then they heard the voice of Mr.Perks, loud and rather angry.
"I don't care," he said; "I won't stand it, and so I tell you straight." "But," said Mrs.Perks, "it's them children you make such a fuss about--the children from the Three Chimneys." "I don't care," said Perks, firmly, "not if it was a angel from Heaven.
We've got on all right all these years and no favours asked.

I'm not going to begin these sort of charity goings-on at my time of life, so don't you think it, Nell." "Oh, hush!" said poor Mrs Perks; "Bert, shut your silly tongue, for goodness' sake.