“I object to the place being denuded. There is not much in that,” blustered Mr. Kincton Knox, plaintively.
He was now subsiding; and she, availing herself of this frame of mind, proceeded with even more force, and dignity, till interrupted by Miss Clara, who observed serenely—
“Mamma, that greedy little pig will choke himself with apricot-stones, if you allow him.”
Master Howard Seymour Knox—a stunted and bilious boy—scowled at Miss Clara, with muddy eyes, his mouth being too full for convenient articulation, and clutched his plate with both hands.
“My precious rosebud, be careful,” remonstrated his mamma with gentle fervour.
Stooping over his plate, a clatter of fruit-stones was heard upon it, and Master Howard ejaculated—
“You lie, you do, you tell-tale tit!”
“Oh! my love,” remonstrated Mrs. Kincton.
“Briggs shall box your ears for that, my fine fellow,” said Miss Clara.
“There’s another cram! I’d like to see her,” retorted the youth.