"You needn't care; I don't," she said with the utmost nonchalance.
He lifted his eyebrows in astonishment, and had nearly forgotten his dignity so far as to utter a low whistle, but caught himself just in time.
Mr. Dinsmore frowned darkly.
"What is the meaning of such talk, Lulu?" he inquired. "If you do not care for the displeasure of teachers and guardians you are indeed a naughty girl."
He paused for a reply, but none came, and he went on: "Professor Manton has brought me a report of your conduct to-day, agreeing substantially with the one given by yourself, and I have called you down to tell him in your presence that you are to go on taking lessons of Signor Foresti."
Lulu's cheeks crimsoned, and she looked from one to the other with flashing eyes.
"Grandpa Dinsmore and Professor Manton, I have said several times, and I say it again, I will never take another lesson from that man!"
"Then you deliberately defy the authority of both the professor and myself?" Mr. Dinsmore queried sternly.
"In this one thing I do."
"The consequences may be very unpleasant," he said significantly and with rising anger.