Thereupon Sir Charles felt highly gelatinous, and lost, for the moment, all power of resistance or argument.
“Ah, you will; and then you will remind me of my dear mother. She knew how to command; but as for poor dear papa, he is very disappointing. In selecting an admiral for my parent, I made sure of being ordered about. Instead of that—now I'll show you—there he is in the next room, inventing a new system of signals, poor dear—”
She threw the folding-doors open.
“Papa dear, shall I ask Charles to dinner to-day?”
“As you please, my dear.”
“Do you think I had better walk or ride this afternoon?”
“Whichever you prefer.”
“There,” said Bella, “I told you so. That is always the way. Papa dear, you used always to be firing guns at sea. Do, please, fire one in this house—just one—before I leave it, and make the very windows rattle.”
“I beg your pardon, Bella; I never wasted powder at sea. If the convoy sailed well and steered right I never barked at them. You are a modest, sensible girl, and have always steered a good course. Why should I hoist a petticoat and play the small tyrant? Wait till I see you going to do something wrong or silly.”
“Ah! then you would fire a gun, papa?”