“Gladys! ” he exclaimed, with the sharp irritability of ill-health.
She had just popped a fat bon-bon into her mouth, and she remained petrified for a moment by so unaccustomed a thing as a rebuke. Then for convenience sake, she took the sweet out again in her thumb and finger, and burst into sobs of anger and surprise.
Nettie was equally surprised and angry. “What are you thinking of, Jack, frightening the poor child by shouting at her like that? ”
“But did you see what she was doing, my dear, meddling with West’s property? ”
“Mr. West shouldn’t leave his sweets about on the table if he doesn’t want the child to have them. Naturally, she thought they were for her.”
“Not at all. She knew they were for Cyril. She heard West say so.”
“After Cyril’s behaviour to me this morning I certai
