what does "they each had a pick-a-back "here mean? No, it was true. Every morning when he came back from chambers it was to find the babies with Isabel in the back drawing- room. They were having rides on the leopard skin thrown over the sofa back, or they were playing shops with Isabel’s desk for a counter, or Pad was sitting on the hearthrug rowing away for dear life with a little brass fire- shovel, while Johnny shot at pirates with the tongs. Every evening they each had a pick- a- back up the narrow stairs to their fat old Nanny.