With a great effort, Lady Niton composed herself. She stretched out a
claw and resumed her work, two red spots on her cheeks.
"Marry her, if you like," she said, with delusive calm. "I sha'n't ever
speak to you again. A scheming minx without a penny!--that ought never
to have been allowed out of the school-room."
Bobbie leaped from his chair.
"Is that the way you mean to take it?"
Lady Niton nodded.
"That is the way I mean to take it!"
"What a fool I was to believe your fine speeches about Oliver!"
"Oliver may go to the devil!" cried Lady Niton.
"Very well!" Bobbie's dignity was tremendous. "Then I don't mean to be
allowed less liberty than Oliver. It's no good continuing this
conversation. Why, I declare! some fool has been meddling with
those books!"
And rapidly crossing the floor, swelling with wrath and determination,
Bobbie opened the bookcase of first editions which stood in this inner
drawing-room and began to replace some volumes, which had strayed from
their proper shelves, with a deliberate hand.
"You resemble Oliver in one thing!" Lady Niton threw after him.
"What may that be?" he said, carelessly.
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