‘You will bring them here to dinner,’ said Arthur. ‘Thank you, I must not promise; I cannot tell what Pelham may be fit for. I must take him to the Zoological Gardens. How he will enjoy them, poor fellow! The only thing to guard against will be his growing too much excited.’
Percy was engaged that morning, and soon departed, with hardly a word from Theodora, whose amiability had been entirely overthrown by finding her service postponed to that of his aunt.
‘There’s the Derby happily disposed of!’ said Arthur, rising from the breakfast-table. ‘I don’t see why,’ said Theodora.
‘What! Is not this Percy’s well-beloved aunt, who nursed Helen, and is such a friend of John’s?’
‘I am not going to dance attendance on any one.’
‘It is your concern,’ said Arthur; ‘but, if you don’t take care, Percy won’t stand much more of this.’
Vouchsafing no answer, she quitted the room. Arthur made a gesture of annoyance. ‘She treats Percy like a dog!’ he said. ‘I believe my aunt is right, and that it never will come to good!’
‘Shall you go with her, then?’
‘I must, I suppose. She will not let me off now.’
‘If we do not vex her by refusing, I hope she will give it up of herself. I am almost sure she will, if no one says anything about it.’