"Did he say what the doctor thought of it?"
"Yes."
"Tell me the very words," and he leant his elbows on the table, looking at her fixedly.
"Ah! Lionel, can you bear it? They are so very sad."
"Tell me them, I say."
Marian looked down, as if she could not bear to meet his countenance, and faltered as she repeated them.
"Ay!" said Lionel, springing up, and flinging himself round passionately, "I knew it was humbug all the time!"
"What? How? O Lionel, what have I done?"
"As if I was a fool or a baby, to be fed with false hopes," proceeded Lionel, sitting down, and hiding his face on his crossed arms on the table; "she might have let that alone, she has done me mischief enough already."
"Lionel," said Marian, firmly and gravely, for she was really shocked at his tone, "you must not come to me, if it is to speak in such a manner of your mother."