Page:The Redemption of Anthony (1911).djvu/33

 you, and she never says mean, spiteful things, nor hurts your feelings, nor laughs at you—"

Mrs. Martin smiled—but it was a winning smile, instead of her habitual satiric one. "It has obvious advantages—you could shut her out when she bored you."

"Oh, but she never bored me!"

"Really? She must have been pretended. I shall ask Mr. Drake to take you in hand—we may make a great novelist of you."

"I liked him. I wasn't a bit afraid, after the first."

"I told you he was harmless. Did he talk to you?"

"At first he was annoyed at my being there, but I told him I only came because I was sent, so then he talked to me, just to be polite."

"He doesn't usually take the trouble."

"I wished he wouldn't. I liked him better when he was quiet. It wasn't stupid quiet; it was just quiet quiet."