"Well, dear, and you—who are afraid to be alone in the night—I don’t think you would be very bold in crime, thank God."
"I am not talking about reality, mamma," said Gwendolen, impatiently. Then, her mamma being called out of the room, she turned quickly to her cousin, as if taking an opportunity, and said, "Anna, do ask my uncle to let us get up some charades at the Rectory. Mr Middleton and Warham could act with us—just for practice. Mamma says it will not do to have Mr Middleton consulting and rehearsing here. He is a stick, but we could give him suitable parts. Do ask; or else I will."
"Oh, not till Rex comes. He is so clever, and such a dear old thing, and he will act Napoleon looking over the sea. He looks just like Napoleon. Rex can do anything."
"I don’t in the least believe in your Rex, Anna," said Gwendolen, laughing at her. "He will turn out to be like those wretched blue and yellow water-colours of his which you hang up in your bedroom and worship."
"Very well, you will see," said Anna. "It is not that I know what is clever, but he has got a scholarship already, and papa says he will get a fellowship, and nobody is better at games. He is
