He gave a shout of laughter as he caught the ball of wool which Esther threw at him, having picked it up from her stepmother's work-table. He returned it with a better aim, and before his sister could get a hand on it, he had shut the door, only opening it a little space a few seconds later to put in his head with a mocking word, withdrawing it at once, and then his foot was heard upon the stair, while he gave a sailor's version of Mr. Garrick's patriotic naval song:
Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer.
“He has gone before I had a chance of asking him to take a message to the cheesemonger,” said Mrs. Burney, calling out to him while she hurried after him out of the room.
CHAPTER VII
THE moment the two sisters were alone, the elder said quickly in a low voice, leaning across the table:
“We had a long talk with Signor Rauzzini, my dearest Fanny. I could not, of course, tell you before mother.”
“You mentioned his name; but were you discreet?” said Fanny. “I think mother felt that you were going too far when you referred to his eyes. Mother most surely believes that the dark eyes of an Italian form a topic that should not be discussed except by our elders, and then only with bated breath and a fearful glance around lest a word should be overheard.”
“His eyes—you know his eyes, Fanny?”