“But must your nephew apologize besides taking a licking?” inquired the Briton.
Juno turned an awful face upon hint. “It is from his brutal assailant that apologies are due. Mr. Mayrant’s family” (she paused here for blighting emphasis) “are well-bred people, and he will be coerced into behaving like a gentleman for once.”
I checked an impulse here to speak out and express my doubts as to the family coercion being founded upon any dissatisfaction with John’s conduct.
“I wonder if reading or recitation might not soothe your nephew?” said the poetess, now.
“I should doubt it,” answered Juno. “I have just come from his bedside.”
“I should so like to soothe him, if I could,” the poetess murmured. “If he were well enough to hear my convention ode—”
“He is not nearly well enough,” said Juno.
The et cetera here coughed and blew his nose so remarkably that we all started.
A short silence followed, which Juno relieved.
“I will give the young ruffian’s family the credit they deserve,” she stated. “The whole connection despises his keeping the position.”