Page:Arthur Stringer - Twin Tales.djvu/185

Rh turned about and looked none too fraternally into his face.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"It's queer I never noticed it before," remarked the old Major, apparently more to himself than to the girl confronting him.

"Noticed what?" asked Teddie.

"How you're getting a bit like your mater," replied the placid-eyed old gentleman in the armchair, "a bit tamed and trimmed off and ironed out!"

"I won't be!" proclaimed Teddie, with quite unlooked-for passion, as she got up from her chair.

"But how, my dear, are you going to stop it?" asked the still equable old Major.

"I won't get like that!" reiterated Teddie, looking for all the world like a second Artemisia confronting an army of embattled males. She stood there, as though expecting some retort from him. But he said nothing. He merely took out another cigarette, lighted it, and recovered his morning Herald from the grass at his feet. This he proceeded to peruse with