'Why, no sir! By no means! Very h'extraordinary, I thought I said, sir—or h'indicated,' replied Gotham, going back to his leisurely motions about the table.
'Have the goodness to remember that it is proper her flowers should be extraordinary.'
'O, you are clearing the table,' Hazel said, flitting in; 'just what I wanted—tea early.'
'Tea never h'is late, Miss 'Azel!' said Gotham in an aggrieved voice.
'I didn't know but it might be to-night,' said the girl provokingly. 'But dear Mr. Falkirk, do you really like to have your books disturbed so often, just for me?'
'My dear,' said Mr. Falkirk rather lazily, brushing one hand over his forehead, 'you have done that for my life generally.'
'My dear Mr. Falkirk!—evidently I have just come in time to receive a shot meant for somebody else. I wonder you allow yourself to fire at random, sir, in that way.'
'Who has been sending you flowers, Miss Hazel?' her guardian asked, without change of tone.
She laughed.
'Shall I leave you the cards, sir—just to pass away the time while I am gone?'