Page:Herbert Jenkins - The Rain Girl.djvu/309

 "Teddy wilted and visibly shrank beneath her invective, whilst Cecily continued to cry quietly to herself. She reminded me very forcibly of Peter"

"Peter who?" asked Lola.

Drewitt turned reproachful eyes upon her. "Surely, Lola, you are not a Free Thinker?" Lola laughed and shook her head.

"She reminded me of Peter. She seemed to want to convey the idea that she had never previously even heard of Teddy; she was disowning him. Then came the supreme moment, pregnant with drama. Suddenly he sprang to his feet, his mouth working uncannily, little points of foam at the corners. I wished that Cecily had brought him on a lead. Looking about him wildly, he planted himself in front of the Aunt, and looking up at her and almost crying, he spluttered— "'Damn your money, and you too. Keep it. I don't want it. Take it to hell with you,' and then he disappeared.

"Personally I think he went through the door; but I cannot say with any degree of certainty, the exit was so dramatic."

Beresford whistled.

"And what did Aunt Caroline say?" asked Lola.

"She said nothing," said Drewitt; "but from her looks I gathered that Teddy will have a sporting chance of at least some of her money."

"You mean?" said Beresford.

"I mean that I'm going to engage the services of