“And I don’t feel like one!” wailed the Duchess miserably. “How can I? O Herminia ... child ... my dear, prithee take me down. If I fall——”
“You won’t fall, dear aunt—you never do!”
“I nearly did last time, minx!”
“Because you wriggled, aunt.”
“I’ll ha’ this hateful thing destroyed!” cried the Duchess, striking the huge piece of furniture with a ridiculously small, white hand.
“Then I shall buy a bigger!” quoth my lady.
“Then I’ll leave thee, thou vixenish child!”
“But you’d come back to me, thou dear little loved aunt.”
“Aye, I should, thou great amiable wretch. Now pray lift me down like the sweet, gentle soul thou art, Herminia.”
“Am I brawny, aunt?”