Page:What Maisie Knew (Chicago & New York, Herbert S. Stone & Co., 1897).djvu/94

80 "Well, if you keep him up—and I dare say you've had worry enough—why shouldn't I keep Ida? What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander—or the other way round, don't you know? I mean to see the thing through."

Mrs. Beale, for a minute, still with her eyes on him as he leaned upon the chimney-piece, appeared to turn this over. "You're just a wonder of kindness—that's what you are!" she said at last. "A lady's expected to have natural feelings. But your horrible sex—isn't it a horrible sex, little love?" she demanded with her cheek upon her step-daughter's.

"Oh, I like gentlemen best," Maisie lucidly replied.

The words were taken up merrily. "That's a good one for you!" Sir Claude exclaimed to Mrs. Beale.

"No," said that lady; "I've only to remember the women she sees at her mother's."

"Ah, they're very nice now," Sir Claude returned.

"What do you call nice?"

"Well, they're all right."

"That doesn't answer me," said Mrs. Beale; "but I dare say you do take care of