"What a wicked, greedy Turk you must be!" ejaculated the nurse, who was
often in hot water with the elder boy.
"But Reginald need not have screamed so," testily interposed Lord
Hartledon. "I thought one of them must be on fire. You naughty child,
why did you scream?" he continued, giving Reginald a slight tap on the
ear.
"Any child would scream at being so taken by surprise," said Lady
Hartledon. "It is Edward who is in fault, not Reginald; and it is he who
deserves punishment."
"And he should have it, if he were my son," boldly declared the nurse, as
she picked up the unhappy Reginald. "A great greedy boy, to swallow down
every bit of the jam, and never give his brother a taste, after poisoning
him with that nasty powder!"
Edward rose, and gave the nurse a look of scorn. "The powder's good
enough for him: he is nothing but a young brat, and I am Lord Elster."
Lady Hartledon felt provoked. "What is that you say, Edward?" she asked,
laying her hand upon his shoulder in reproval.
"Let me alone, mamma. He'll never be anything but Regy Elster. _I_ shall
be Lord Hartledon, and jam's proper for me, and it's fair I should put
upon him."
The nurse flounced off with Reginald, and Lady Hartledon turned to her
husband. "Is this to be suffered? Will you allow it to pass without
correction?"
"He means nothing," said Val. "Do you, Edward, my boy?"
"Yes, I do; I mean what I say.
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