“Oh, do you?”
“Yes, I think every female a child under thirty years of age.”
“Oh, lord! Well, Connell, we won’t quarrel about that at all events. How is the baby?”
“You jest.”
“No, on my soul no; but I thought you would like to be met with in your own way, but if you prefer the term “child” better, how is the child?”
“She is well enough.”
“Or ill enough—which is it?”
“Ill enough in temper, but well enough in health, I take it,” said Lady Connell, tossing up her head. “You’ll find her in the next room.”
“Many thanks. Go to her and say that a gentleman wishes to speak to her, if she will grant him an audience.”
Lady Connell sailed out of the room, and presently returned to say that Ellen had, upon the ground that she was detained against her will like a prisoner, refused to reply to the message in any terms at all.