“No; that would curl up again; but I don’t want to have my clothes torn off my back.”
“You won’t get them torn off this afternoon. I want you to come in the Park there, down by the water-side. You’ll like that, savage.”
“Yes, of course. Can we fish?”
“No, that wouldn’t do; but I tell you what: you can take some bread with you and feed the ducks.”
“Take some bread with me and feed the ducks!” cried the boy contemptuously.
“Well, that’s what I’m going to do. Then you won’t come?”
“Yes, I will, Drew, if I can get away. Of course I will. Oh, mother, you there?”
Lady Gowan had just entered the room, and came up toward the window, smiling, and looking proud, happy, and almost too young to be the mother of the stout, manly-looking boy who hurried to meet her; and court etiquette did not hinder a loving exchange of kisses. She shook hands directly after with Andrew Forbes.
“I am afraid that you two find it very dull here sometimes,” she said.
“Well, yes, Lady Gowan,” said the youth, “I often do. I’m not like Frank here, with his friends at court.”