"He'll keep you here till noon!"
"He's shaving, I think. He won't be long," she replied,
with great gentleness. After a moment's pause, she turned
from the window and came gayly forward.
"Oh, I forgot: I was going to feed the birds.
There are several of them out there now." As she spoke,
she busily broke up some of the rolls on the table.
Her face was bright with the pleasure of the thought.
"If you don't much mind, Julia," her uncle began,
with almost pleading intonations, "I rather think I wouldn't
feed those birds. The rule is there before our eyes,
you know--and it's always been my idea that if you're
at a hotel it's the correct thing to abide by its rules.
It's just an idea of mine--and I daresay, if you think
about it, you'll feel the same way."
The girl freed the last remaining bread-crumb from her gloves.
"Why, of course, uncle," she said, with promptitude.
Although there was no hint of protest in her tone
or manner, he felt impelled to soften still further
this solitary demonstration of his authority.
"You see I've been all round the world, my little girl,"
he explained, haltingly, "and when a man's done that,
and knocked about everywhere, he's apt to get finicking
and notional about trifles every once in a while."
"You're less so than anybody I ever knew," she generously interposed.
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