"I dare not, indeed."
Rice seized two corners of the feather pallet, and made it travel in a swift swish across the attic boards to the window at the front, which he opened. Supporting Maria in his arms, he signaled Angélique, with an amused face, to obey her tyrant; and she did so. But Peggy stalked behind the screens, and put her face close to the black eyes in the great soft lair built up of so many beds.
"You and I are nice people, madame," said Peggy through her teeth. "We don't care who suffers, if we are happy. We ought to have been twins; the same little beast lives in us both."
Tante-gra'mère's eyes snapped.
"You are a limb," she responded in shrill French.
"Yes; we know each other," said Peggy.
"When you are old, there will come a little wretch to revile you."
"I don't revile you, madame. I dote on you."
"Your mother should box your ears, mademoiselle."
"It would do me no good, madame."