CHAPTER XVIII
Mr. Badger calls at Bell House;
and Christobel at Fuchsia Cottage
Hughie most tactfully refrained from saying one word to add to Pamela's weariness that night. It was plain she was very tired--plain to her mother, who, for that reason perhaps, was a little inclined to be biased against the elder pair.
It was not kind to leave the child alone at Champles Creek, when by their own story they had seen her and called to her.
"After all, one of you might have gone up to see what was the matter, darling," she said to Crow later.
"But, Mother, she says we'd started."
"I think she is saying it to shield you both; Pam is very generous," suggested Mrs. Romilly.
"I suppose you mean that either way we are wrong," answered Crow, a little wounded.
"Well, do you think it was quite kind to leave her all alone? After a long tiring day? But never mind--a night's rest will put it right, and certainly Pam bears no malice."
That was how the affair looked to Mrs. Romilly. Christobel said no more. She was a wise, kind girl--moreover, she was becoming aware of some strange mesh of misunderstanding that had entangled them all. Pamela had had to bear the brunt of that horrible brooch affair--now she was accused of this!