"I don't think," she said mournfully, "that you ought to let them call
him 'The Buccaneer'; people might think it odd, now that he's going
to build a house for Soames. I do hope he will be careful; it's so
important for him. Soames has such good taste!"
"Taste!" cried June, flaring up at once; "wouldn't give that for his
taste, or any of the family's!"
Mrs. Small was taken aback.
"Your Uncle Swithin," she said, "always had beautiful taste! And
Soames's little house is lovely; you don't mean to say you don't think
so!"
"H'mph!" said June, "that's only because Irene's there!"
Aunt Juley tried to say something pleasant:
"And how will dear Irene like living in the country?"
June gazed at her intently, with a look in her eyes as if her conscience
had suddenly leaped up into them; it passed; and an even more intent
look took its place, as if she had stared that conscience out of
countenance. She replied imperiously:
"Of course she'll like it; why shouldn't she?"
Mrs. Small grew nervous.
"I didn't know," she said; "I thought she mightn't like to leave her
friends. Your Uncle James says she doesn't take enough interest in life.
We think--I mean Timothy thinks--she ought to go out more. I expect
you'll miss her very much!"
June clasped her hands behind her neck.
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