Page:What Maisie Knew (Chicago & New York, Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1897).djvu/483

Rh never, never will. There!" he dauntlessly exclaimed.

"He can't!" Mrs. Wix as distinctly commented.

Mrs. Beale, erect and alive in her defeat, jerked her handsome face about. "He can't!" she literally mocked.

"He can't, he can't, he can't!" Sir Claude's gay emphasis wonderfully carried it off.

Mrs. Beale took it all in, yet she held her ground; on which Maisie addressed Mrs. Wix. "Sha'n't we lose the boat?"

"Yes, we shall lose the boat," Mrs. Wix mentioned to Sir Claude.

Mrs. Beale meanwhile faced full at Maisie. "I don't know what to make of you!" she launched.

"Good-by," said Maisie to Sir Claude.

"Good-by, Maisie," Sir Claude answered.

Mrs. Beale came away from the door. "Good-by!" she hurled at Maisie; then passed straight across the room and disappeared in the adjoining one.

Sir Claude had reached the door and opened it. Mrs. Wix was already out. On the threshold Maisie paused; she put out her hand to her stepfather. He took it and held