Part 15 (2/2)
”I should think him a very sensible man.”
”Well, I should think him a _guy_,” said Miss Medland, with intense emphasis.
This method of treating an old friend galled Norburn excessively. When anger is in, the brains are out.
”I suppose Mr. Derosne is your ideal,” he said.
Daisy accepted the opening of hostilities with alacrity.
”He dresses just perfectly,” she remarked, ”and he doesn't bore one with politics.”
This latter remark was rather shameless, for Daisy was generally a keen partisan of her father's, and very ready to listen to anything connected with his public doings.
”You never used to say that sort of thing to me.”
”Oh,'used!' I believe you've said 'used' six times in ten minutes! Am I always to go on talking as I _used_ when I was in the nursery? I say it now anyhow, Mr. Norburn.”
Norburn took up the despised hat. Looking at it now through Daisy's eyes he could not maintain that it was a handsome hat.
”It's your own fault. You began it,” said Daisy, stifling a pang of compunction, for she really liked him very much, else why should she mind what he wore?
”I began it?”
”Yes. By--by dragging in Mr. Derosne.”
”I only mentioned him as an example of fas.h.i.+onable youth.”
”You know you wouldn't like it if I went about in dowdy old things.”
”I don't mind a bit what you wear. It's all the same to me.”
”How very peculiar you are!” exclaimed Daisy, with a look of compa.s.sionate amazement. ”Most people notice what I wear. Oh, and I've got a charming dress for the flower-show at Government House.”
”You're invited, are you?” asked Norburn, with an ill-judged exhibition of surprise.
”Of course I'm invited.”
”I'm sorry to hear it.”
”Why, pray, Mr. Norburn? Are you going?”
”Yes. I suppose I must.”
”Not in that hat!” implored Daisy.
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