"To-morrow?" echoed Alice; "I thought we should have holiday till they came back."
"What, nearly two months more to roast over the fire and read novels!" laughed Hugh.
"I don't read novels."
"Stories then."
"And I don't roast over the fire."
"What do you call this?" he asked, advancing to her and passing his hand down her shoulder. "My eye, Alice, you are next door to on fire!"
"I'm not! I wish you wouldn't come bothering. Hugh."
Having lodged his bombshell he departed, leaving Alice writhing under the certainty that now "beginning lessons" was put into Agnes's head nothing would get it out again.
"I am going in to Aunt Phyllis," said her sister, getting up and putting away her desk.
"I shall come too then," said Alice.