'Why not?' said Jane. 'What is the use of his knowing those stupid
languages? I am sure it is wasting time not to improve such a genius
as he has for mechanics and natural history. Now, Claude, I wish you
would answer.'
'I was waiting till you had done,' said Claude.
'Why do you not think it nonsense?' persisted Jane.
'Because I respect my father's opinion,' said Claude, letting himself
fall on the grass, as if he had done with the subject.
'Pooh!' said Jane, 'that sounds like a good little boy of five years
old!'
'Very likely,' said Claude.
'But you have some opinion of your own,' said Lily.
'Certainly.'
'Then I wish you would give it,' said Jane.
'Come, Emily,' said Claude, 'have you brought anything to read?'
'But your opinion, Claude,' said Jane. 'I am sure you think with me,
only you are too grand, and too correct to say so.'
Claude made no answer, but Jane saw she was wrong by his countenance;
before she could say anything more, however, they were interrupted by
a great outcry from the Old Court regions.
'Oh,' said Emily, 'I thought it was a long time since we had heard
anything of those uproarious mortals.'
'I hope there is nothing the matter,' said Lily.
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