‘Certainly.’
‘Then I wish you would give it,’ said Jane.
‘Come, Emily,’ said Claude, ‘have you brought anything to read?’
‘But your opinion, Claude,’ said Jane. ‘I am sure you think with me, only you are too grand, and too correct to say so.’
Claude made no answer, but Jane saw she was wrong by his countenance; before she could say anything more, however, they were interrupted by a great outcry from the Old Court regions.
‘Oh,’ said Emily, ‘I thought it was a long time since we had heard anything of those uproarious mortals.’
‘I hope there is nothing the matter,’ said Lily.
‘Oh no,’ said Jane, ‘I hear Redgie’s laugh.’
‘Aye, but among that party,’ said Emily, ‘Redgie’s laugh is not always a proof of peace: they are too much in the habit of acting the boys and the frogs.’
‘We were better off,’ said Lily, ‘with the gentle Claude, as Miss Middleton used to call him.’