Meg shook her head over this problem and resumed the story.
"And a great forest grew round the castle, which could not be got through till the handsome Prince arrived." Here the drawing-room door opened, and Meg looked up, half expecting to see the handsome prince.
It was only Fenton, however, and he disliked Meg intensely, a dislike which that young person was by no means backward in returning, so she went calmly on reading her book.
"Well, where's mother?" asked Fenton, in his slightly nasal voice, looking at the little figure with a frown.
"Mumsey's in the garden," replied Meg with great dignity, flinging back her curls.
"Just where you ought to be," said Fenton ill-naturedly, "getting fresh air."
"I'm reading a fairy tale," explained Meg, closing her book; "mumsey said I could do what I liked."
"Your mother don't rear you well," retorted the American, and he walked away, when a peal of laughter made him turn round.
"What funny faces you make," said the child; "I feel quite laughy."
"I'd like to spank you," observed Fenton, with no very amiable expression of countenance.