'
Here Mrs Prothero returned, followed by Netta, looking as sulky as she
possibly could, and with the traces of tears on her face. There was an
awkward silence for a few seconds, during which both Mr Prothero and
Netta were getting redder and redder, and their inner man
correspondingly choleric. At last the father began the strife.
'Now, I say, Miss Netta,' there was a pause for a few minutes. 'Do you
hear, miss?'
'Yes, father, I hear very well,' said Netta, and muttered to herself in
continuation, 'who could help it?'
'You hear very well--I should think so. You hear a good deal you've no
business to listen to. Do you mean to give up that scamp Howel?'
No reply.
'Now it's no use for you to stand there and say nothing, for an answer I
will have.'
'I don't think he's a scamp,' said Netta boldly.
Poor Mrs Prothero trembled, and looked imploringly at Netta.
'My dear Netta, you should not contradict your father,' said Mrs
Jonathan, with a severe look.
'You don't think he's a scamp. Then you mean to have him, I suppose?'
said Mr Prothero.
'I didn't say that, father. But I don't see why I may not speak to my
own cousin.'
Every one was surprised at Netta's answers. Like her father, she could
talk better before numbers.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126