Page:The principal girl (IA principalgirl00snai).pdf/24

 the subject. I will not have you make yourself ridiculous."

The Suffolk Colthurst, with an approximation to natural majesty, put on a pair of gold-rimmed eyeglasses which were suspended round her neck by a cord, and took the Leading Morning Journal off the First Baron's table.

"Impertinent, certainly. Sarcasm, I suppose."

"Suspect it's that fellow Huffham, because I declined to propose him under Rule Two."

"Certainly you do appear to have laid yourself open, but the letter is most ill-natured."

"As though I should be likely to propose him. Known the man all my life."

The Suffolk Colthurst gathered her majestic inches for the ultimatum.

"Wally, you must listen to me. This matter has already gone too far. Let it drop. It is the first time I have known you go out of your way to make yourself ridiculous."

"Public health, Agatha, public decency."

"Leave it to the County Council."

"They are not competent to envisage such a problem as this. And I am determined, in the face of that letter—"

"Paul says that no man can afford to make himself a public laughing-stock."