Earlier attempt failed to post. Might argue that this constitutes something of as a maturity moment, when Peter and Nicola are no longer the Young Ones to be looked out for (not that this is exactly Marlow practice) but the ones supposed to be responsible for the littler ones. Possibly a point along Nicola's longer trajectory towards taking responsibility - a certain amount already in school context (and much more in next volume!) - also perhaps relates to her response to Lawrie's meltdown?