“What are you doing there?”
“I’m just looking at Cécile, Mother.”
“Come away at once. Haven’t I told you a hundred times not to go near her? I know you with your sneaking ways. You want to steal her away from me. She’s the only one I’ve got left, and I want her to myself,—all, all. If ever you go near her, I’ll kill you. See!”
A fit of coughing choked her utterance. Again the girl stole to the door.
“Margot!”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Fetch the bottle of brandy from the cupboard.”
The woman poured herself a stiff glass and downed it in a gulp.
“Come here, you little imp; I want to look at you.”
She drew the shrinking girl to her. Her lips twitched with spite.