"Did you say we should meet him?" inquired Georgina of her brother, with lofty indifference a shade over accentuated.
"Yes," was the reply, "and you needn't put on airs because you are going to have tea with a grown-up man."
"And a silly little boy," retorted Georgina, nettled. She sighted Miss Mayne.
"Corney's frightfully jealous that we're going to steal his beloved Mr. Jakes from him," she scoffed.
Miss Mayne laughed merrily. "Cheer up, Corney," she said. "We don't want your old Mr. Jakes, whoever he may be." She rumpled his hair affectionately.
The child slipped his arm through that of the woman.
"No," he replied, and looked up at her fair face quizzing down at him; a little smile lit his eyes in innocent roguery. "No, but he may want you!"
"Oh!" exclaimed Miss Mayne. "Why, I do believe Georgie was right!"
"How right?"
"I believe you are a silly little boy, after all."