Miss Perry did as she was desired. Her manner of doing it seemed to imply that she expected to receive physical correction.
“Sit down, girl,” said Aunt Caroline.
Miss Perry resumed her chair, doubtless with an emotion of thankfulness upon her narrow escape.
“I could not have believed it to be possible,” said Aunt Caroline, speaking very slowly, “that a Wargrave could have been so imprudent, so ungrateful, so entirely lacking in self-respect.”
This indictment was delivered in the most deliberate and crushing manner; but a good deal of the effect was marred because Cheriton laughed outright in the middle of it. Aunt Caroline, however, presented a haughty indifference to the behavior of the husband-elect, who, of course, was not himself a Wargrave, and whose behavior in this crisis showed that fact clearly.
“Are you mad, girl?” said the old lady. “Answer me.”
“Jim is awfully nice,” drawled Miss Perry.
The ebony walking-stick and the head-dress performed a concerted piece together which filled Ponto with consternation.
“The creature must be a natural.”
Miss Perry grew bolder, however, as the clear conviction that she was pledged to Jim Lascelles took a firmer hold upon her.