"Oho!" said Mr. Casement, "then there are some hopes for you, little woman."
The very manner in which he uttered the interjection, oho! with a little jerk at the end, was unpleasing to Margaret: she sat with her beautiful lips compressed, resolved to be silent.
"It is particularly kind in Miss Gage," said Mr. Grey, "knowing the state of my health to be so bad."
"There is nothing the matter with your health, I am sure," said Mr. Casement, "you will live to be a hundred!"
Mr. Grey smiled quietly, and made no reply.
"It is all nerves—what are nerves? Don't tell me!" said Mr. Casement.
Mr. Grey did not seem at all inclined to tell him; and Margaret, rising pettishly from the table, pushed her chair back, and her dessert plate forward, and turned about to leave the room.
"Going, little woman?" said Mr. Casement, "going to sit in state in the drawing-room, and play at being grown up?"
"Going away from you, Sir;" returned Margaret, taking courage from being almost outside the door.
Mr. Grey laughed; although he tolerated Mr. Casement's caustic remarks from very long habit, he was not at all sorry that any other person should be less forbearing.