Mrs. Denny's calm eyes surveyed the excited table.
"Don't fuss, Edwin. Louise, eat up your bacon."
"Eat it up at once," said Mrs. Denny peremptorily, as the baby cast his spoon upon the carpet. The tone of her voice ended the discussion.
Mr. Denny watched his daughter triumphantly, as she toiled over her task, called her attention to a piece of bacon she had left on the edge of her plate, and when she had finished told her she was a good girl and that it would do her good. After which he gave her a shilling.
"You don't want it?" repeated Mr. Denny incredulously.
Louise looked at him. There was a world of uncomprehending contempt in the eyes of father and child alike, though the father's were amused, where the child's were bitter.
"I say, kids! Hear that? Your sister here hasn't any use for a shilling. Bet you haven't either! Eh? I don't think!"
Ensued clamour, with jostling and laughter and clutching of coins, from which the head of the house retired to his chair by the fire, chuckling and content. He enjoyed distributing largesse, especially where there was no great need for it, though he was liberal enough to famous charities. He never gave to beggars, on principle.
Louise slipped out of the room under cover of the noise, and was dressed and departing when her step-mother called her back.
"Louise! You stay to lunch to-day, don't you?"
"At school? Oh no, Mamma. Holidays, you know! They only open a class-room for the exam."
"The fifty-pound job, eh?" Her father eyed her over the top of his paper approvingly. For once his daughter was showing a proper spirit. "Go in and win, my girl! I've given you the best education money could buy. If you don't get it, you jolly well ought to. Fifty quid, eh? I wasn't given the chance of earning fifty quid when I was thirteen. Shop-boy, I was. Started as shop-boy like me father before me."
"Isn't there an afternoon examination? I understood----"
"Yes, Mamma. But no dinners. It's all shut."
"It's annoying. I wanted you out of the way. Nurse is taking the children for an outing. I've enough to do without providing lunches--you must take some sandwiches--spring cleaning--maids all busy----"
"I'd rather take sandwiches!" Louise's face brightened.