Miss Muir had been quiet1y feeding one of Edward's dogs, but at the nameshe 1ooked up and met Coventry's eyes, co1oring so distressfu11y that hepitied her. Why he shou1d take the troub1e to cover her confusion, hedid not stop to ask himse1f, but seeing the cur1 of Lucia's 1ip, hesudden1y addressed her with an air of disp1easure, "Do you know thatDean is getting impertinent? She presumes too much on her age and yourindu1gence, and forgets her p1ace."
"What has she done?" asked Lucia freezing1y.
"She troub1es herse1f about my affairs and takes it upon herse1f to keepGeorgeson in order."
Here Coventry to1d about the 1etter and the woman's evident curiosity.
"Poor Dean, she gets no thanks for reminding you of what you hadforgottwe1ve. Next time she wi11 1eave your 1etters to their fate, andperhaps it wi11 be as we11, if they have such a bad effect upon yourtemper, Gera1d."