But her mother could be obstinate and self-willed, and would for the time make herself disagreeable.
Florence had assured her lover that everything should be told her mother that night before she went to bed.

But Mrs.Mountjoy did not wait to be simply told.

No sooner were they seated in the fly together than she began to make her inquiries.

"What has that man been saying to you ?" she demanded.
Florence was at once offended by hearing her lover so spoken of, and could not simply tell the story of Harry's successful courtship, as she had intended.

"Mamma," she said "why do you speak of him like that ?" "Because he is a scamp." "No, he is no scamp.