"
"I was listening to mamma," said Leam with an air of grave rebuke.
Mrs. Corfield rubbed her nose vigorously. "You would do better to come
and talk to me instead," she said.
Learn transfixed her with her eyes. "I like mamma's company best," she
said in the stony way which she had when stiffening herself against
outside influence.
"But if you come to us, you can listen to her as much as you like,"
said Alick soothingly. "We will not hinder you; and, as my mother
says, it is not good for you to be here alone."
"I like it," said Leam.
"Nonsense! then you should not like it. It is not natural for a girl
of your age to like it. Come with us," cried Mrs. Corfield: "why not?"
"I have something to do," Leam answered solemnly.
"What can a chit of a thing like you have to do? Come with us, I tell
you." Mrs. Corfield said this heartily rather than roughly, though
really she could not be bothered, as she said to herself, to stand
there wasting her time in arguing with a girl like Leam. It was too
ridiculous.
Leam looked at her with mingled tragedy and contempt, and disdained to
answer.
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