"Perhaps she thought the incident too trifling," suggested Edgar, a little chagrined.
"Oh no, not at all! In a place like North Aston the least thing counts as an adventure; and meeting for the first time one of the neighbors is not an incident to be forgotten as if it were of no more value than meeting a flock of sheep."
Mr. Dundas spoke peevishly. To a man who liked to be amused and who lived on crumbs this reserved companionship was disappointing and tiresome.
"Leam is at home making music," said Fina disdainfully. She had caught the displeased accent of her adopted father, and echoed it.
"Does she make much music?" asked Edgar with his hand under her chin, turning up her face.
The child shrugged her little shoulders. "She makes a noise," she said; and those who heard her laughed.
"That is not a very polite way of putting it," said Edgar a little gravely.
"No," said Josephine.
"You should speak nicely of your sister, my little one," put in Sebastian.
Fina looked up into his face reproachfully. "You called it a noise yourself, papa," she said, pouting. "You made her leave off yesterday as soon as you came in, because you said she made your head ache with her noise, and set your teeth—something, I don't know what."