Queenie looked exceedingly angry.
“I suppose you are a very impertinent little boy, and don’t know your manners.”
Bertie saw now that Queenie was angry. He began to think she was not quite so nice as he had once thought. He judged it wise to change the subject.
“Aren’t you very glad Phil has come home? I think he is such a nice boy!”
This praise of her favorite brother soothed Queenie’s ruffled feelings a little. Moreover, she was finding it a little dull to be so cross. She felt that she was spoiling her own fun, without being half as dignified as she could wish.
“Yes, he is a very nice boy,” she answered, with more warmth; “only I think it is a great pity he did not hide away as we intended. It would have been great fun; and I can’t think why you came and spoiled it all.”
Bertie looked a little shy, but he did not offer any excuse for his conduct.
This silence encouraged Queenie, who continued, with judicial severity,—
“I think you were a very interfering little boy.”
Bertie was silent for some time, and then he said, slowly,—