"Did you? He's had enough of it," said Toney, pretending Trick was lost and needed a loud whistle.
"He seemed rather low, and said you didn't want him any more, and—he really is a nice fellow, Toney. Do you know that someone told mother that he wanted to marry you! I wonder if he does?"
"Not me!" said Toney laughing. "Aunt Dove is quite right, no one would care to marry me, only General Stone's money. I'm not sweet and pretty like you and Silvia Hales, and I'm not anything of a lady, and your mother sort of sniffs at me I know!" Toney laughed very happily.
"We were brought up to think ladylike ways covered all our sins. I see it differently now, and I don't mean to be a slave of that idea any longer."
Toney suddenly pulled a newspaper cutting out of her pocket.
"Look, Maud, I want you to read this. I've got an idea." She handed Maud an account of the splendid reception given to the great musician, Frank Weston, in London.
"How interesting! He is a real genius. I hope Jeanie won't see it. I believe she loves him all the time, and it's that which makes her miserable, but—you know—his parents once had a shop."
"So did Lord Courthouse at home. I used to help him a bit when he was hard put to it."
"But then he was Lord Courthouse!"
"Now that's right down silly, isn't it? Two people do just the same things, and yet because one is born a lord he can do it and people praise him, and the other man whose father was an honest tradesman is sniffed at."