Let her off lightly THIS time, and the moment the lawyer-bird's
gone, read her the riot-act. Pull her up with a jerk. Ride her on
the curb and NO ROT!"
"We could try," and Mrs. Chichester wiped her eyes: "Of course she
HAS improved in her manner. For THAT we have to thank Ethel." She
looked affectionately at her daughter and choked back a sob. "Who
could live near dear Ethel and NOT improve?"
"Ah! There we have it!" agreed Alaric.
"But I don't know how much of the improvement is genuine and how
much pretended," gasped his mother.
"There we go again. She's got us fairly gravelled," said Alaric
despondently.
"Of course I can truthfully tell him that, at times, she is very
tractable and obedient."
"AT TIMES! About two minutes a week! When Jerry's around. How on
earth he puts up with her I can't understand. She follows him about
like a little dog. Listens to him. Behaves herself. But the moment
he's gone--Poof! back she goes to her old tricks. I tell you she's a
freak!" and Alaric dismissed the matter, and sat back fanning
himself.
"Can I tell Mr. Hawkes that?" asked Mrs. Chichester.
"No," replied Alaric. "But I WOULD say that the thousand a year is
very hardly earned. Nat ought to have made it ten thousand.
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