The tone was undeniably wistful, whether the main attraction lay in Judith, in Mrs. Beard, or in the rabbits. The combination was a powerful one in Margaret's eyes.
"And would you rather do that than come with us?" Bernadette went on, very kindly, very gently.
The toe worked hard at the carpet.
"Do just what you like, dear. I only want you to please yourself."
"If you really don't mind, mummy, I think I would rather——"
"Very well then!" Bernadette kissed her. "Run away to Judith!"
The delighted smile came at last, as Margaret looked up in gratitude at her kind mother.
"Oh, thank you so much, mummy!" And she darted off with an unusual gleefulness.
Bernadette, her part of kind mother admirably played, looked across at Arthur. He was so crestfallen that she could not forbear from laughing. His scheme a failure, his sacrifice thwarted! The father sulked; the child, with an innocent but fatal sincerity, repelled advances. Things looked bad for the unifiers! Indeed one of them had put her foot neatly through the plan devised by the other. Judith knew about the proposed excursion; clearly she had not thought it possible that Margaret would be asked to join, or she would never have arranged the visit to Mrs. Beard.
"We're unfortunate in meeting a strong counter-attraction, Arthur. We've overrated the charms of our society, I'm afraid." Though Bernadette laughed, she spoke in dry tones, and her look was malicious.