'You'd better get some made of wood then,' said Leonard. 'Remember then, Ave, I say I will not have my books taken out, and left about over the house.' Leonard dashed out of the room passionately, and presently came thundering down again, every step audible the whole way, and threw the book on the table, bringing in a whirlwind, and a flaring sloping candle dropping upon the precious cloth. Henry started up and pointed. 'I'm glad of it!' exclaimed Leonard; 'it will be a little amusement for you. Good night, Ave! I'm going to finish up-stairs, since one can't read, write, or touch a book without your being rowed!' He was gone, and Averil, though rather frightened, gave him infinite credit for keeping his temper; and perhaps he deserved it, considering the annoyance and the nature of the provocation; but she did not reflect how much might have been prevented by more forethought and less pre-occupation. She said not a word, but quietly returned to her copying; and when Henry came with paper and poker to remove the damage, she only shoved back her chair, and sat waiting, pen in hand, resigned and ironical. 'I declare,' grumbled Henry, as he examined the remaining amount of damage, 'these day-schools are a great inconvenience; there's no keeping a place fit to be seen with a great uncivilized lad always hanging about!' 'Leonard is considered particularly gentlemanlike,' said Ave, with lips compressed, to keep back something about old bachelors. 'Now, I should have thought a lady would have some regard to her own drawing-room, and object to slovenliness--elbows on table, feet everywhere!' 'Nothing is in worse taste than constraint,' said Ave from the corners of her mouth--'at least for those that can trust their manners without it.' 'I tell you, Ave, you are spoiling the boy. He is more conceited than ever since the Mays noticed him.' 'Leonard conceited!' 'Yes; he is getting as stuck up as Tom May himself--your model I believe!' 'I thought he was yours!' 'Mine?' 'Yes; you always seem to aim at a poor imitation of him.' There was a blushing angry stammer in reply; and she suppressed her smile, but felt triumphant in having hit the mark. Unready at retort, he gathered himself up, and said: 'Well, Ave, I have only this to say, that if you choose to support that boy in his impertinences, there will be no bearing it; and I shall see what I shall do.'