She turned to
Alaric and found him regarding her as though she were some strange
animal. Ethel did not deign to notice her. And this was the family
her father had sent her over to England to be put in amongst. She
whispered to Hawkes:
"I can't stay here."
"Why not?" asked the lawyer.
"I'd be happier with me father," said Peg.
"Nonsense. You'll be quite happy here. Quite."
"They don't seem enthusiastic about us, do they?" and she looked
down at "Michael" and up at Hawkes and indicated the Chichester
family, who had by this time all turned their backs on her. She
smiled a wan, lonely smile, and with a little pressure on
"Michael's" back, murmured: "We're not wanted here, 'Michael!' "
The terrier looked up at her and then buried his head under her arm
as though ashamed.
Jarvis came in response to the ring at that moment, bearing a
pained, martyr-like expression on his face.
Mrs. Chichester directed him to take away Peg's parcels and the dog.
Peg frightenedly clutched the terrier.
"Oh, no, ma'am," she pleaded. "Plaze lave 'Michael' with me. Don't
take him away from me."
"Take it away," commanded Mrs. Chichester severely, "and never let
it INSIDE the house again."
"Well, if ye don't want HIM inside yer house ye don't want ME inside
yer house," Peg snapped back.
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