"Can I feed your dogs?"

Without waiting for permission, she grabbed the jelly-bean jar and popped it open.

Argentum and Aurum, having heard the magic words feed, and dogs, did not growl or tear Meg apart. They got up, and moved to her side and sat watching her, their jewelled eyes sending a message, please, please, please.

Meg doled out a jelly-bean to each dog, and then ate two herself. Two for the dogs, two for herself. Meg had just achieved a major diplomatic breakthrough.