Part 42 (1/2)
”You can't see it? And you think yourself cute! Can't you read between the lines?”
”What?”
”I told Amy of Prince Charlie's love for you; that started the ball.
What does she set herself to do? Poison your mind against him. Why? Note the lie about Percy's turning white when----Good Lord, you can see through it now, can't you? You don't want spectacles for that? Your own common sense will tell you--though you certainly don't seem to have a large supply on hand.”
”I--she wanted me--wanted her brother to----”
”That's it! You've got the hammer on the nail head at last! That accounts for her questioning me as to how you were left under the will; whether the money was settled on you or not.”
”What a perfect pair of beasts!”
”Hear, hear!”
”And you invited them here! How could you? They are not fit people to have in the house!”
”I like that! Upon my word! See how gone you were on Percy at din----”
”d.i.c.k! If you ever dare to say----”
”Well, I must see about packing up----”
”Packing up! Don't let me think you quite a complete idiot, d.i.c.k!”
”The train goes at three-thir----”
”d.i.c.k!” She stamped her foot in anger. ”Why do you want to make it worse for me than it need be by your stupidity. You perfect horror, you!”
”Stupidity runs in the family, I suppose. You have been mighty wise, haven't you? Um--you don't want me to go, then?”
”And leave me in this hopeless muddle alone? It wouldn't be commonly human--to say nothing of brotherly!”
”Oh, well.” He affected a resigned air to hide his smiles. ”I suppose I'll have to stop if you put it like that. I'll just walk up to Prince Charlie's place and tell him I shan't be able to go up with him.”
”To--go--up--with--him?”
Dismay caused her to voice the question in instalments. d.i.c.k stooped, pretended to tie up his shoe-lace, some act was necessary to hide from her the amused look in his eyes.
”Yes. I'd like to say good-bye to the dear old chap. He'll probably go abroad and stop there. Maybe I shall never see him again.”
”Abroad! Never--see----”
Then she stopped dead in the middle of what she was saying; stood as one dumbfounded. d.i.c.k's eyes in his averted head were twinkling and his mouth twitching. She certainly had some ground for the opinion she expressed of him.
He was a brute of a brother.
CHAPTER x.x.xIII