“Upon—my—word!” said Miss Howe with her benevolent chuckle. “Nita! Listen to the infant!”
“Like what?” Mr. Flood moved uneasily.
The Baxter girl turned to him enthusiastically.
“Oh, I used to think you such wonderful people——”
“Did you now?” Miss Howe teased her.
“Let be! let be!” said Mr. Flood impatiently. “Well, dear lady?”
“Oh, I did! I’d read all your stuff. I believe I could write out The Orchid House from memory still.”
His eyes lit up as he challenged her—
“‘Sour!’ said the fox at her feet,
‘How can she ripen windy-high?