'What, you're allowed to call her these awful names after breakfast?'
'No. She made a rule before breakfast I wasn't to call Dilly a beast, and I haven't. How did you know it meant her anyway? It might have meant somebody else.'
'That's prevaricating; it's mean—not like you, Archie.'
'Well, I never called her a beast. No-one can say I did. And besides, anybody would have called her a beast after how she went on.'
'What are you angry with the child for?'
'Oh, she bothers so. The moment I imitate the man with the German accent she begins to cry. She says she doesn't like me to do it. She says she can't bear me to. Then she goes and tells Miss Townsend I slapped her, and Miss Townsend blames me.'
'Then you shouldn't have slapped her; it was horrid of you; you ought to remember she's a little girl and weaker than you.'
'I did remember…'
'Oh, Archie!'
'Well, I'll make it up if she begs my pardon; not unless she does I sha'n't,' said Archie magnanimously.