“Don’t say it, John. You used to laugh at the little lass going off with Edgar and Piers fishing. You used to tease her about the gold brooch Piers gave her. Many a time you have called her to me, ‘the little Duchess.’”
“Wilt thou be quiet?”
“I am only reminding thee.”
“Thou needest not. I wish thou wouldst remind thy son that he has a sister that he might look after a bit.”
“I can look after Kate without his help. He is doing far better business than hanging around Dukes.”
“If thou wantest a quarrel this morning, Maude, I’m willing to give thee one. I say, Edgar ought to be here.”
“What for? He is doing work that we will all be proud enough of some day. Thou oughtest to be helping him, instead of abusing him. I want thee to open this morning’s Times, and read the speech he made in Glasgow City Hall. Thou couldst not have made such a speech to save thy life.”
“Say, I would not have made it, and then thou wilt say the very truth.”
“Read it.”
“Not I.”