‘“How doth—“’
‘If you please, papa, would you go on? I shall never make her do it with you all looking on.’
She sat down on a tombstone, and placed the child before her. After an hour’s walk, there was a general exclamation of amusement and compassion, on seeing Theodora and the child still in the same positions.
‘She will never say it at all now, poor child,’ said Violet; ‘she can’t—she must be stupefied.’
‘Then we had better send down the tent to cover Theodora for the night,’ said Arthur.
‘As if Theodora looking at her in that manner was not enough to drive off all recollection!’ said John.
‘It is too much!’ said Lord Martindale. ‘Arthur, go, and tell her it is high time to go home, and she must let the poor child off.’
Arthur shrugged his shoulders, saying, ‘You go, John.’
‘Don’t you think it might do harm to interfere?’ said John to his father.
‘Interfere by no means,’ said Arthur. ‘It is capital sport. Theodora against dirty child! Which will you back, Percy? Hollo! where is he? He is in the thick of it. Come on, Violet, let us be in for the fun.’