"
She put down her pen, and turning, gazed down into the child's eager,
inquisitive little face.
"Why should you wish to know, Timmy?" She spoke rather coldly and
sternly.
She was sorry indeed now that she had been tempted to repeat what was
perhaps after all only the outcome of Miss Pendarth's unconscious
jealousy of the woman who had made a fool of the man she had loved as a
girl. It was unfortunately true that Olivia Pendarth had an unconscious
prejudice against all young and pretty women.
"I want to know," mumbled Timmy, "because I think I do know what he was
like."
"If you know what he was like, then there is nothing more to say."
"I want to be sure," he repeated obstinately.
"But how absurd, Timmy! Why should you want to know about a poor old
gentleman who is dead, and of whom you are not likely ever to hear
anything? I have often told you how horrid it is to be inquisitive."
Timmy paused over that remark. "I want to know," he said in a low
mumbling voice, "because I think I have seen him." He did not look up at
his mother as he spoke. With the forefinger of his right hand he began
tracing an imaginary pattern on the blue serge skirt which covered her
knee.
Pages:
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222