First, he had recourse to the old term Polysyllable, and when Lucy
remonstrated, he answered, 'I've a right to call my brother what I
please.'
'You know how angry mamma would be to hear you.'
'Mamma calls him the Polysyllable herself,' said Maurice, looking
full at his victim.
Lucy, who would have given the world to hinder this epithet from
coming to her husband's knowledge, began explaining something about
Gilbert's nonsense before he knew him, and how it had been long
disused.
'That's not true, Lucy,' quoth the tormentor. 'I heard mamma tell
Sophy herself this morning to write for some fish-sauce, because she
said that Polysyllable was so fanciful about his dinner.'
Lucy was ready to cry, and Algernon, endeavouring to recal his usual
dignity, exclaimed, 'If Mrs. Kendal--I mean, Mrs. Kendal has it in
her power to take liberties, but if I find you repeating such again,
you little imp, it shall be at your risk.'
'What will you do to me?' asked the sturdy varlet.
'Dear Maurice, I hope you'll never know! Pray don't try!' cried
Lucy; but if she had had any knowledge of character, she would have
seen that she had only provoked the little Berserkar's curiosity, and
had made him determined on proving the undefined threat. So the
unfortunate Algernon seldom descended the stairs without two childish
faces being protruded from the balusters of the nursery-flight over-head,
pursuing him with hissing whispers of 'Polysyllable' and 'Polly-silly,'
and if he ventured on indignant gestures, Maurice returned them with
nutcracker grimaces and provoking assurances to his little sister that
he could not hurt her.
Pages:
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597