Page:Alice Lauder.pdf/87

said the goddess in rather loud, cheerful tones, holding her head a little to one side, half in shyness, half affectation, as you see a baby putting on airs sometimes when it is being admired. ‘It’s a jolly little place in summer—lots of tennis and riding, and———’

“‘Flirtation and gossip,’ put in the young man, whose sleek curly head and boyish smile reminded me somehow of a black retriever dog very anxious to please, and dying to run and fetch a stick out of the water.

“‘Who asked for your opinion? Little boys should be seen and not heard,’ exclaimed the beauty, playfully tapping him on the head with her tennis-bat.

“I looked at our discreet, orthodox hostess; I looked at the calm married daughter. They both smiled benevolently, as if this sort of thing was only to be expected. I smiled too—there was nothing else for it. However, they may have marked some unspoken remonstrance in my eyes, for the elder lady observed with her deepest lay-reader expression of voice, ‘Really, Lizzie, you are very unkind to poor Captain Swan.’

“‘Oh no, aunt; I am only getting him into training. He was very uncivilized when first he came here; but now he is greatly improved.