William, goaded at last to verbal retaliation, turned on her.
"If you say much more to me," he said darkly, "I'll—I'll—I'll not help you at any of your parties."
He then echoed her derisive laughter in a piercing tenor.
"William, darling," sighed Mrs. Brown, "do go and wash your face."
William crammed a handful of crusts into his mouth, put the cushion from the armchair on to the top of the cat, and went out into the hall. Here he burst suddenly into a flood of raucous sound—
"Oh, who will o'er the downs with me?
Oh, who will with me ri—i—i—i—ide?"
Mr. Brown opened the library door.
"Will—you—stop—that—confounded—noise?" he demanded emphatically.
"I'm sorry," said William amicably. "I forgot you din't like musick."