"How very unpleasant you both are this evening!" said Rosamond. "I
cannot conceive why money should have been referred to. Polities and
Medicine are sufficiently disagreeable to quarrel upon. You can both
of you go on quarrelling with all the world and with each other on
those two topics."
Rosamond looked mildly neutral as she said this, rising to ring the
bell, and then crossing to her work-table.
"Poor Rosy!" said Lydgate, putting out his hand to her as she was
passing him. "Disputation is not amusing to cherubs. Have some music.
Ask Ladislaw to sing with you."
When Will was gone Rosamond said to her husband, "What put you out of
temper this evening, Tertius?"
"Me? It was Ladislaw who was out of temper. He is like a bit of
tinder."
"But I mean, before that. Something had vexed you before you came in,
you looked cross. And that made you begin to dispute with Mr.
Ladislaw. You hurt me very much when you look so, Tertius."
"Do I? Then I am a brute," said Lydgate, caressing her penitently.
"What vexed you?"
"Oh, outdoor things--business." It was really a letter insisting on
the payment of a bill for furniture. But Rosamond was expecting to
have a baby, and Lydgate wished to save her from any perturbation.