Page:The Other House (London, William Heinemann, 1896), Volume 2.djvu/55

Rh "When I take Miss Martle?" There was a new encouragement in Mrs. Beever's voice.

The apparent effect of this benignity was to make Miss Armiger's eyes widen strangely at their companion. "Why, I'll come back and take the child."

Mrs. Beever met this offer with an alertness not hitherto markedly characteristic of her intercourse with Rose. "I'll send her out to you." Then by way of an obeisance to Tony, directing the words well at him: "It won't indeed be a scene for that poor lamb!" She marched off with her duty emblazoned on her square satin back.

Tony, struck by the massive characters in which it was written there, broke into an indulgent laugh, but even in his mirth he traced the satisfaction she took in letting him see that she measured with some complacency the embarrassment Rose might cause him. "Does she propose to tear Miss Martle limb from limb?" he playfully inquired.

"Do you ask that," said Rose, "partly because you're apprehensive that it's what I propose to do to you?"

"By no means, my dear Rose, after your just