Mark made a sign to Miss Gordon to humour her, adding—
“I never saw such a small person for picking up big words.”
“Here it is,” said Honor, at length, “and much good may it do you!” reading out—“Detrimental—injurious, hurtful, prejudiced.”
“That’s what Mrs. Kane said he was,” pointing a gleeful finger at the young man. “A shocking detrimental, and that Mrs. Brande was a fool to have him here.”
“Sweet! How dare you repeat such things?” cried Honor, with blazing cheeks. “You know it is very wrong. What a naughty little girl you are!”
“But she said it,” boldly persisted Sweet; “and she is grown up.”
“She was joking, of course; grown people often joke.”
“She said a great deal. She said that——”
“Hus-s-sh! We don’t want to hear tales,” breathlessly interrupted Honor.
“She said,” screamed a piping triumphant voice, high above the hus-s-sh, “he was in love with you!”