"You must pardon me, uncle," she says, "but, indeed, I think your ideas of meum et tuum are rather confused. All these pretty things belong to my cousin by every right in the world, and I am determined she shall have them."
"I say she shall not," he cries, violently.
"And I say she shall," Reine reiterates, laughing, but in earnest, the golden lights fairly dancing in her eyes.
"Why, you audacious little spitfire," the old man begins to splutter, but Vane Charteris interrupts him gravely.
"I think Reine's idea is the true one," he says. "The gifts really belong to Maud, and she ought to have them."
The bride flashes him a dazzling look of gratitude from her brilliant eyes.
"There, now, Uncle Langton," she cries, with pretty triumph. "You see my husband sides with me."
"Sides with Maud, you mean," Mr. Langton mutters, between his teeth.
"He will always be on the side of justice, I hope," Reine says, with a smile at her husband, that he does not see, consequently does not return.
But Mr. Langton frowns at the pert little lady.