Page:Arminell, a social romance (1896).djvu/125

Rh "And she is pert!" said Lord Lamerton. "Upon my soul, Julia, it is going a little too far to take me to task for having been twice married. And again, when I said something about my being content with the providential ordering of the world, she caught me up and told me that anyone with a coronet and fifty thousand a year would say the same. I have not that sum this year anyhow. Girls nowadays are born without the bump of reverence, and with that of self-assurance unduly developed."

Neither spoke for a few minutes.

Presently Lord Lamerton, who was looking depressed, and was listening, said:

"Hark! Is that Giles crying again?"

"I heard nothing."

"Possibly it was but my fancy. Poor little fellow. Something has upset him. It was unfortunate, Julia, our lighting on 'Sintram.'"

He stood up.

"I am not easy about the dear little creature. Did you see, Julia, how he kissed me and clung to me?"

"He is very fond of you, Lamerton."

"And I of him. I think I shall be more easy if I go up and see our Sintram, and learn whether he is asleep, or whether the bad dreams are threatening him. Poor little Sintram!"

"You will come back, Lamerton?"

"Yes, dear, when I have seen and kissed my little Sintram."