'Nobody has spoken to me,' said Lord Byron in a sullen tone.
'George, my love,' said his mother in a solemn voice, 'you know you promised me to be good.'
'Well! what have I done?'
'Lord Byron,' said Mrs. Chaworth, interfering, 'do you like to look at pictures?'
'Thank you,' replied the little lord in a more courteous tone; 'I like to be left alone.'
'Did you ever know such an odd child!' said Mrs. Byron; 'and yet, I assure you, Mrs. Chaworth, he can behave, when he likes, as pretty as possible.'
'Pretty!' muttered the little lord between his teeth.
'If you had only seen him at Dulwich sometimes at a little tea-party,' said Mrs. Byron, 'he really was quite the ornament of the company.'
'No, I wasn't,' said Lord Byron.
'George!' said his mother again in a solemn tone, 'have I not always told you that you are never to contradict any one?'