“Hurry up, child, can’t you?” exclaimed Chrissie.
“Mumsey wanted us to be very good,” said the little fellow timidly.
“Well, we’re not being naughty. What does it matter to Miss Earle which lessons come first? She’s only a governess, and I am sure Mums pays her well.”
Her raised tone of voice had caught even Leila’s unhearing ears. She turned sharply.
“Chrissie, I’m shocked at you,” she said. “That’s not like a lady. Suppose we were grown-up and had to be governesses, you wouldn’t like to be spoken to like that.”
“I’m not speaking to her,” muttered Chrissie, rather sullenly, though she was already rather ashamed.
“But Jap might have said it to her,” persisted Leila.
“I wouldn’t,” exclaimed the child indignantly, “in course I wouldn’t.”
“Then go off at once and say what I told you to,” said Christabel, and Jasper obeyed her.
Leila, however, for once was roused. Certain words of her mother’s about remembering that she was the elder and should set a good example to heedless Chrissie, returned to her memory. She shut up her book with a sigh, and stooping, began to gather together some of the dolls’ belongings. But Chrissie pushed her away.