Page:What Maisie Knew (Chicago & New York, Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1897).djvu/342

328 Mrs. Wix, at this, pounced upon it; she had grabbed it too soon even for Maisie to become aware of being rather afraid of it. Thrusting it instantly behind her, she positively glared at Sir Claude. "'See' it, wretched man—the innocent child see such a thing? I think you must be mad, and she shall not have a glimpse of it while I 'm here to prevent."

The breadth of her action had made Sir Claude turn red—he even looked a little foolish. "You think it's too bad, eh? But it 's precisely because it 's bad that it seemed to me it would have a lesson and a virtue for her."

Maisie could do a quick enough justice to his motive to be able clearly to interpose. She fairly smiled at him. "I assure you I can quite believe how bad it is!" She hesitated an instant; then she added: "I know what 's in it."

He of course burst out laughing, and while Mrs. Wix groaned an "Oh heavens!" he threw off: "You would n't say that, old boy, if you did! The point I make is," he continued to Mrs. Wix with a blandness now re-established—"the point I make is simply that it sets Mrs. Beale free."