'No, no, Leonard,' she said, becoming less playful, 'we must not do it on purpose. Even unconsciously, we plague the spirits of order quite enough, and they have the right on their side after all.'
'I think a lady is the person to say what one may do or not in the drawing-room; don't you?' said Leonard.
'That depends.'
'And you let your brother spread his things all over yours!'
'So I do; but I would not if papa minded it, or even if this were Richard's house, and he did not like it. Don't begin with worries about trifles, pray, Leonard.'
'It is not I that care about trifles,' returned the boy. 'How was one to reckon on a man setting up a monomania about dogs' paws in the hall?'
'I have feared we were rather foolish; I ought to have reminded you to ask whether Mab would be welcome.'
'I was not going to ask leave, I have no one whose leave to ask,' said Leonard, in tones at first proud, then sad.
'That's a bad beginning,' returned Ethel. 'As master of the house, your brother has a right to your compliance, and if you do not all give way to each other, you will have nothing but dissension and misery.'
'All to each other; yes, that is fair.'