“Old enough to die. No, Miss-What’s-Your-Name, I can’t be sentimental about your rather awful old friend. And we don’t want her bothering us here. The sooner she finds it out, the better. If you won’t give her a hint, I will.”
“No,” said Rosaleen, “I won’t.... And I won’t let you.”
“What!” cried Miss Bainbridge. “You won’t let me? Is that what you said? How do you propose to stop me?”
“Well,” said Rosaleen. “I—I suppose I can’t stop you. But I can go away and not hear you. And I will.”
“Good-bye!” said Miss Bainbridge.
Miss Mell intervened.
“See here, Enid, my child, this won’t do! You mustn’t offend Rosaleen. Don’t be too much of a genius!”
“There’s no reason for her to be offended. She’s not personally responsible for Miss Waters. I’ve simply put my foot down about the old imbecile——”
“But the studio belongs to all three of us,” said Miss Mell. “And Rosaleen and I want Miss Waters. It’s two against one.”
Miss Bainbridge had got up and was looking at them with an ugly, narrowed glance. But Miss Mell continued her unpacking, and Rosaleen, instead of quailing, met her look quite calmly. She couldn’t do much with them....