Part 29 (2/2)
”She wouldn't mind.”
”She might. Oh, Hugh dear, it must wait.”
”Very well,” answered Hugh, looking disappointed.
”Did John tell you to ask?” said Agnes.
”No, not exactly; he said he wished you could, but he was afraid it was too much bother.”
”I am afraid I can't manage it,” she answered regretfully.
All this time Alice's eyes had been raised from her book, as she was interested in the discussion, but as Hugh was turning to leave the room she took up her book again.
”I should think Alice would be glad to begin lessons,” he observed, stopping short with his hand on the door.
There was a mischievous look in his eyes.
”I shall not,” answered Alice.
”When are you to begin?”
”I don't know.”
”To-morrow,” answered Agnes.
”To-morrow?” echoed Alice; ”I thought we should have holiday till they came back.”
”What, nearly two months more to roast over the fire and read novels!”
laughed Hugh.
”I don't read novels.”
”Stories then.”
”And I don't roast over the fire.”
”What do you call this?” he asked, advancing to her and pa.s.sing his hand down her shoulder. ”My eye, Alice, you are next door to on fire!”
”I'm not! I wish you wouldn't come bothering. Hugh.”
Having lodged his bombsh.e.l.l he departed, leaving Alice writhing under the certainty that now ”beginning lessons” was put into Agnes's head nothing would get it out again.
”I am going in to Aunt Phyllis,” said her sister, getting up and putting away her desk.
”I shall come too then,” said Alice.
”Do not come just yet, dear, I want to talk to auntie.”
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