"I shall take care how I offend you!"

Nora nodded over her tea.

"Your maid was shocked. She said I might as well have been a man."

"It's quite true," sighed Mrs. Hooper. "You always were such a tomboy,
Nora."

"Not at all! But I wish to develop my muscles. That's why I do Swedish
exercises every morning. It's ridiculous how flabby girls are. There
isn't a girl in my lecture I can't put down. If you like, I'll teach you
my exercises," said Nora, her mouth full of tea-cake, and her expression
half friendly, half patronising.

Connie Bledlow did not immediately reply. She seemed to be quietly
examining Nora, as she had already examined Alice, and that odd gleam in
the eyes under depths appeared again. But at last she said, smiling--

"Thank you. But my muscles are quite strong enough for the only exercise
I want. You said I might have a horse, Uncle Ewen, didn't you?" She
turned eagerly to the master of the house.

Dr. Hooper looked at his wife with some embarrassment. "I want you to
have anything you wish for--in reason--my dear Connie; but your aunt is
rather exercised about the proprieties."

The small dried-up woman behind the tea-urn said sharply: