In the pause which was occupied by Bea in considering a choice of retorts stupendous, Robbie spoke again.
“I think Bea misses Lila while she is in the infirmary,” she said.
Bea swung magnificently on her heel. “I have decided that the proper rejoinder is a crushing silence. I wish you good afternoon.” At the door she halted. “And I shall be a genius for a spell. You just watch me and see. Shelley was lawless, you know, and Burns and Carlyle, I guess, and Goethe and George Eliot——”
“OH, THANK YOU; I DON’T WANT ANYTHING TO EAT”
“What!”
This was a shout of such indignation that Bea vanished instanter. A moment later she poked her head around the lintel.
“Well, they were,” she said, “and so are you. It is a marvel to me how you hoodwink Prexie about your work. Pure luck! Vale!”