[p209]
Pauline and Muffie and Lynn giggled a little. They had begun to recognize vaguely that Max was not exactly as they were.
When he stood with his little legs planted far apart and his little hands thrust deep in his knickerbocker pockets, and his little head cocked on one side, some subtle breath of a spirit, masculine and essentially opposed to their own, was wafted towards them.
“I’ve done wiv bibs,” he repeated.
“That will do, Max,” said Miss Bibby, coldly. “I shall consider you in disgrace, until you have told Anna and Muffie you are sorry.”
“I’ve done wiv bibs,” shouted Max.
“Go and stand in that corner, Max,” Miss Bibby said with unexpected sternness in her tone.
Max scrambled off his chair as if he could hardly reach the place indicated fast enough.
He ran right into the corner—gave a hard kick at the skirting board and made a rush for the door.
“I’ve done wiv bibs,” he shrieked, and tore away as fast as his legs could carry him into the garden.
“Go on with your breakfast, Lynn,” said Miss Bibby with as much calmness as she could muster,—“sit down immediately, Muffie—” for Muffie, excited by the unusual happening, had flown to the window to see [p210] where the rebel was heading for, “Max has forgotten himself, I am afraid.”