Page:What Maisie Knew (Chicago & New York, Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1897).djvu/211

Rh He broke into a quick smile. "Will you come now?—go with us for an hour?"

Maisie considered. "She would n't have me even now."

She could see that he had his idea, but that her tone impressed him. That disappointed her a little, though in an instant he rang out again. "She will if I ask her," he repeated. "I 'll ask her this minute."

Maisie, turning at this, looked away to where her mother and her stepfather had stopped. At first, among the trees, nobody was visible; but the next moment she exclaimed with expression: "It 's over—here he comes!"

The Captain watched the approach of her ladyship's husband, who walked slow and composed across the grass, making, with his closed fingers, to Maisie, a little movement in the air. "I 've no desire to avoid him."

"Well, you mustn't see him," said Maisie.

"Oh, he's in no hurry himself!" Sir Claude had stopped to light another cigarette.

She was vague as to the way it was proper he should feel; but she had a sense that the Captain's remark was rather a free reflection. "Oh, he does n't care," she replied.

"Does n't care for what?"