Page:What Maisie Knew (Chicago & New York, Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1897).djvu/367

Rh Maisie looked incredulity. "How could she? when I did n't speak of it!"

Mrs. Wix was mystified. "Speak of what?"

"Why, of her being so frightful."

"The Countess? Of course she 's frightful," Mrs. Wix declared. After a moment she added: "That 's why she pays him."

Maisie pondered. "It's the best thing about her then—if she gives him as much as she gave me.

"Well, it 's not the best thing about him! Or rather perhaps it is too!" Mrs. Wix subjoined.

"But she's awful—really and truly," Maisie went on.

Mrs. Wix arrested her. "You needn't go into details!" It was visibly at variance with this injunction that she yet inquired: "How does that make it any better?"

"Their living with me? Why, for the Countess—and for her whiskers!—he has put me off on them. I understood him," Maisie profoundly said.

"I hope then he understood you. It's more than I do!" Mrs. Wix admitted.

That was a real challenge to be plainer, and our young lady immediately became so. "I mean it is n't a crime."