‘What, you mean about Eleanor?’ said Lily; ‘you must fall upon Miss Jenny there—it was her doing.’
‘Jane’s tongue is a pest,’ said Claude; ‘but she was not the first to speak evil falsely of one to whom you owe everything. Oh! Lily, I cannot tell you how that allusion of yours sounded.’
‘What allusion?’ asked Lily in alarm, for she had never seen her gentle brother so angry.
‘You know,’ said he.
‘Indeed, I do not,’ exclaimed Lily, munch frightened. ‘Claude, Claude, you must mistake, I never could have said anything so very shocking.’
‘I hope I do,’ said Claude; ‘I could hardly believe that one of the little ones who cannot remember him, could have referred to him in that way—but for you!’
‘Him?’ said Lilias.
‘I do not like to mention his name to one who regards him so lightly,’ said Claude. ‘Think over what passed, if you are sufficiently come to yourself to remember it.’
After a little pause Lily said in a subdued voice, ‘Claude, I hope you do not believe that I was thinking of what really happened when I said that.’
‘Pray what were you thinking of?’