Uncle Bob had entered behind her. He was smiling, hands in pockets. “Nonsense!” he retorted. “Who would steal Manila. You’ve been hard on this poor child again, and she simply took to her heels.”
“I tell her, ‘Don’t you budge’,” cried Mrs. Botts. (Phœbe noted that there was an accent, slight, but enough to give what Phœbe thought was the perfect touch. This was no ordinary villain!)
“Phœbe,” said Uncle Bob, mildly, “how does Manila happen to be here?”
“Tell! Yes!” added Mrs. Botts, wrathfully. “I hear about this Phœbe. She is smart. She knows everything.”
Phœbe drew herself up. “Well, I know one thing,” she returned coolly.
“Ye-e-es! And what?” Mrs. Botts folded her arms and hung her weight on one foot.
“I know that all step-mothers are cruel.”
Out leaped Mrs. Botts’s arms. She swept around upon the Judge. “You hear it?” she demanded. “You hear it? She is permitted to insult me!”
It was not to be denied that Mrs. Botts was doing her part to make the whole thing really dramatic. Phœbe had to give her credit for that.
“Phœbe?”—Uncle Bob was as mild as ever.