Читать книгу Payment Deferred. Psychological Thriller онлайн

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‘Don’t look at me like a fool,’ spluttered Mr Marble. ‘Do what you’re told and stop that noise.’ The two orders were synonymous, but John did not realize that.

‘What did you tell me?’ he asked vaguely.

‘No impertinence, now. I said stop that noise.’

‘What noise, father?’ asked John, more to gain time to collect his thoughts than for any other reason. But the question was fatal.

‘Don’t try to deny it,’ said Mr Marble.

‘Now, you were making a noise, you know, Johnny,’ said Mrs Marble.

‘You were kicking with your feet,’ chimed in Winnie.

‘I didn’t deny it,’ protested John.

‘You did,’ said Mrs Marble.

‘You did,’ said Winnie.

‘Be quiet, Winnie,’ snapped Mr Marble, rounding on his usual favourite in unusual fashion. ‘You’re as bad as he is, and you know it. Have you done your homework yet? I send you to a good school, and this is all the return I get for it.’

‘Why, I got a scholarship,’ replied Winnie, with a jerk of her head.

‘Are you being impertinent too?’ demanded Mr Marble. ‘I don’t know what you children are coming to. It’s time for bed when you start being rude to your parents.’