'Oh, it's nonsense, Papa. Some of the girls will say anything disagreeable.'
'You need not have any scruples on Felix's account, Alda; I know exactly what he has done. I want you to tell me what is being said—or you have allowed to be said—about it.'
'That horrible Miss Price!' was all the answer he got.
He sat upright—laid on Alda's wrist a long bony burning hand, whose clasp she did not forget for weeks, and forcing her to look at him, said, 'Did you allow it to be believed that your brother Felix was a gambler?'
'Papa! I never said so!' cried Alda, beginning to sob.
'Command yourself, Alda; I am not fit for a scene, and I may not be able to speak to you many times again.'
These words—far more new and startling to Alda than to her brother—appalled her into quietness.
'What did you say, Alda? or was it the deceit of silence?'
She hung her head, but spoke at last.
'I only said boys had ways and means! They did tease and plague so. I do believe Carry Price counts every grape that goes into this house—and they would know how I got my new music—and little Robina would tell—and then came something about Mr. Froggatt; and if they knew—'