Page:What Maisie Knew (Chicago & New York, Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1897).djvu/412

398 "She has n't fawned upon him. She hasn't even been kind to him."

Mrs. Wix looked as if she had now an advantage. "Then do you propose to 'kill' her?"

"You don't answer my question," Maisie persisted. "I want to know if you accept her."

Mrs. Wix continued to dodge. "I want to know if you do!"

Everything in the child's person at this announced that it was easy to know. "Not for a moment."

"Not the two now?" Mrs. Wix had caught on—she flushed with it. "Only him alone?"

"Him alone or nobody."

"Not even me?" cried Mrs. Wix.

Maisie looked at her a moment, then began to undress. "Oh, you 're nobody!"

 XXIX

slept beyond her allowance, instantly recognizing lateness in the way her eyes opened to Mrs. Wix, erect, completely dressed, more dressed than ever, and gazing