Hence it was a new thing to be appealed to for information, and though not qualified to give it, he was the last to suppose as much. About the subject in question he knew just what he could not help knowing, and what Leo herself knew a great deal better,--but her object was attained, and the "hullabaloo" protested against, chained him to her side.
The tea-table was now spread, and he glanced towards it, but quick as lightning she struck in.
"Do let us bring our tea here, father. Just you and me. The others can amuse Mr. Custance, he can't need us too."
"Eh?" said the astonished general. Some one wanted to talk to him, and to him alone? He hardly knew what to do with so flattering an invitation.
But as he was obviously expected to respond to it, he followed to the tea-table, and for a minute awaited his turn in patience. Then, as Leo, having helped herself, returned to the sofa and he was still unattended to, he began to frown.
"Pray, Miss Boldero, am I to have no tea? Take care, what you are about." For, strange to say, he had been unperceived, and Sue, flurried by the sudden demand, and in haste to meet it, contrived to catch the handle of the cream jug in her wide lace sleeve, with the result that her father's caution came too late; the jug overturned, and cream flowed apace.
Had it been milk it would have spread faster and farther, but even as it was, there was a mess displeasing to the eye, and the offender in her endeavours to remedy it, made matters worse. The wet lace swished hither and thither.
"Ugh!" cried the general, retreating with a glance at his trousers. "Ring the bell--no, here"--and he produced a clean pocket-handkerchief, and unfolded it.
"Well done, father!" piped a clear voice at his side, and a small hand whipped the handkerchief from him, and deftly used it.
"It's you, is it?" quoth the general, actually laughing.
Do what he would, he could not escape from Leo that day. Here she was back at his elbow, and he was not even allowed to hector Sue for her awkwardness and abuse her sleeves, he was withdrawn so swiftly from the scene of action.
"We'll have this little table between us," quoth Leo, planting it handy for him, "and we'll enjoy ourselves, and they can talk to their rector,"--with gleeful assumption of having secured a superior attraction.