The painter laid his hand tenderly on the flaxen hair.
“Did you enjoy yourself at Margate, Davie?”
Rosina uttered an exclamation of disgust.
“Well, I never! Who’ll you be cross-examining next? Perhaps you think Billy and me are in a conspiracy; that I’ve gained over your spy. I’d better go down-stairs so as not to influence the child’s evidence.”
And turning on her heel, she marched haughtily kitchenwards.
Matthew sighed wearily.
“What’s the matter with her, Billy?” he asked.
“Don’t ask me. She’s been as cross as two sticks ever since they’ve had new curtains at No. 53 opposite. And the weather has been so muggy. And your coming has upset her.”
“But she seems to have turned against you, too. You used to get on so well together.”
“She’s so difficult to live with,” replied Billy, fretfully. “So quarrelsome and discontented.”