Page:The Rejuvenation Of Miss Semaphore.pdf/30

 before the sirocco of her suppressed wrath. A silence that might be felt reigned in the drawing-room. Though glances were interchanged, no one ventured to speak except Mrs. Belcher. She, greatly daring, and with the evident intention of flouting both Miss Semaphore and Toutou, addressed her daughter on all manner of subjects, compelling that unhappy young person to reply at the top of her voice. Miss Prudence, who always shrank from her sister's outbursts, buried herself timidly in the pages of the Lady's Pictorial and tried to look as if she had heard nothing.

When this painful state of things had lasted for some time, Mrs. Dumaresq, by way of creating a diversion, said in her most fascinating manner,

"That dreadful Mr. Morley has been making another speech. I'm sure it is a wonder how anyone can be found to listen to him. Radicals and Socialists and those sort of people really ought to be locked up."

"Perhaps, on their side, they think Tories should be locked up," said Miss Stott, a thick-set young person with views.

"No doubt they do," answered Mrs. Dumaresq with energy. "No doubt, if they