“That child is not to be scolded. She knows no better; she is a very ignorant, very spirited, very affectionate creature. You can’t drive her, you must lead her. I wish that to be understood. She is the daughter of my dearest friend, and I won’t have the little creature tortured. Now I’m off. I expect I shall return in a few minutes with Peggy in my wake.”
“Well, this is a nice state of things!” said Mrs. Wyndham, when Wyndham, having absolutely forgotten his meal, had left the room. “Dear me, girls, sit down and eat, and don’t make things worse. I shall go immediately after breakfast to Miss Fox Temple; she’ll tell me what I had better do for this barbarian.”
“Mother,” said Molly suddenly.
“Well, Molly?”
“You must admit one thing.”
“Well, Molly?”
“She’s a very pretty barbarian, isn’t she?”
“My dear, I dare say. I hardly looked at her. She has no style, no manners, no nothing. I can’t say whether she’s pretty or not.”
“She is pretty, mother, there’s no doubt of that,” said Jessie; “but of course I’m quite sure that she’s going to be fearfully troublesome.”
“She certainly has gone the right way about it,” said Mrs. Wyndham. “Help yourself to some fresh toast. I’m not going to let myself be annoyed by the tiresome child.”