"Look here, Harebell, don't you get me into a row. Don't split, will you? You aren't a sneak, and it would be awfully mean to tell tales. You see, your aunt and uncle are coming to dinner to-night at our house, and they'd make a row over it. I only wanted you to have a good time. I needn't have interfered at all, and it wasn't a lie, and of course they'd think it was, they'd never understand. I'll never forgive you if you split!"
"Oh, I won't say a word about you! You needn't be afraid."
Harebell's voice was scornful.
Peter got rather red in the face.
"Such a fuss about nothing!" he muttered. "I don't expect your aunt will care where you've been. You can tell her you had to come with us; you couldn't help yourself."
Harebell did not speak. Then she said slowly:
"I have told lies myself in India, but not since I've been in England. I couldn't have done it, as you did!"
"I didn't tell a lie."
Peter left her and joined Nan. They were rather a constrained trio for the rest of their walk. Nan remarked—
"You and Peter don't seem to have enjoyed the secret."