"Daisy!" Nigel said, under his breath, in displeasure. "Daisy!!"
Daisy hid her face behind the nearest window-curtain, and only an occasional choke was audible.
Tom's smile was benignity itself.
"I have a sister about her age, I should say," he observed. "A very merry age!"
Choke again.
"This room seems to be a receptacle for curiosities," meditated Tom, poking a little object on the mantelpiece with his awkward fingers. "I thought this was—a—but I see you have an elephant's tooth there, quite a good specimen; yes, killed no doubt in your travels?" He looked at Nigel.
"It has lain on that shelf for thirty years, I believe," Nigel answered.
"Not on that shelf! In the house, if you like," murmured Fulvia.
Nigel laughed; he had spoken absently.
"An Indian elephant, no doubt," Tom said, regarding the specimen critically. "I believe the—a—the molar tusks of the African elephant are—a—somewhat differently formed." Tom was not sure of his ground, but he had to keep up his character for learning.