“That’s her business, isn’t it? I don’t know as there was any reason why she was required to do so, whoever you are. But if you possess any traits of a gentleman you’ll leave my room until I’m dressed.”
“Oh, don’t be catty. I’m her nephew, Gord, and you aren’t the first dame I’ve ever seen half-dressed.”
“I might gather as much from your conduct!”
“Been knocking me, has she? Well, just for that, I’ll get out when I please.”
“I shall call the servants!”
“Go ahead; I can lick any darned fathead Aunt Gracia’s got around here. But I hope you have better luck than I did. I hunted all over the place.”
The girl was close to tears. She looked around desperately. Then with a flash of white she was gone—into the bathroom. The intervening door was fastened swiftly.
“A peach!” whistled the boy. He moved back into the larger chamber. “Now I wonder where did Gracia pick her up? She’s a pippin! A dream! A cuckoo! A lulu—Whew!”
III
Gracia Theddon came into the room,—trailed in, a long string of jade beads clicking against her knees. She stopped.