At that instant little Hattie crept softly to the back of Edna's chair, and whispered:
"Bro' Felix says, won't you please come back soon, and finish that story where you left off reading last night?"
Very glad to possess so good an excuse, the governess rose at once; but
Mrs. Andrews said:
"Wait, Miss Earl. What do you want, Hattie?"
"Bro' Felix wants Miss Earl, and sent me to beg her to come."
"Go back and tell him he is in a hopeless minority, and that in this
country the majority rule. There are fifteen here who want to talk to
Miss Earl, and he can't have her in the schoolroom just now," said Grey
Chilton, slyly pelting his niece with almonds.
"But Felix is really sick to-day, and if Mrs. Andrews will excuse me, I prefer to go."
She looked imploringly at the lady of the house, who said nothing; and
Sir Roger beckoned Hattie to him, and exclaimed:
"Pray, may I inquire, Mrs. Andrews, why your children do not make their appearance? I am sure you need not fear a repetition of the sarcastic rebuke of that wit who, when dining at a house where the children were noisy and unruly, lifted his glass, bowed to the troublesome little ones, and drank to the memory of King Herod. I am very certain 'the murder of the innocents' would never be recalled here, unless—forgive me, Miss Earl! but from the sparkle in your eyes, I believe you anticipate me. Do you really know what I am about to say?"
"I think, sir, I can guess."