'It's a church, or at least it used to be. St Clement Danes its name was.' The fragment of rhyme that Mr Charrington had taught him came back into his head, and he added half-nostalgically: ' "Oranges and lemons," say the bells of St Clement's!'

To his astonishment she capped the line:

'You owe me three farthings,' say the bells of St Martin's,

'When will you pay me?' say the bells of Old Bailey -- '

'I can't remember how it goes on after that. But anyway I remember it ends up, "Here comes a candle to light you to bed, here comes a chopper to chop off your head!"'