Raymond was off his guard, forgetting that certain knowledge he possessed was derived from overhearing. “Yes, you said you must make the best of me ...” he began.
Colin was on to that like a flash. “Now, how on earth could you have known that?” he asked. “Father didn’t tell you.... I know! I said that just as I was passing under the window in the gallery where you were sitting after breakfast. My word, Raymond, you’ve a perfect genius for eavesdropping. It was only last night that you hid behind the flower-vase and heard me mimic you, and if I hadn’t shut the door of the dining-room this morning, you’d have listened to what Aunt Hester and Violet and I were saying, and then you overhear my conversation with father. You’re a perfect wonder.”
Raymond got up, his eyes blazing. “Take care, Colin,” he said. “Don’t go too far.”
Colin laughed. “Ah, that’s better,” he said. “Now you’re more yourself. I thought I should get at you soon.”
Raymond felt his mouth go dry, but below the violence of his anger there was something that made itself heard. “You’ll spoil your chance if you break out,” it said. “Keep steady....” He drained his glass and turned to his brother.
“Sorry, Colin,” he said, “but I’m not going to amuse you to-night.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” said Colin. “I’ve hardly begun yet. Your manner at dinner, now, and your amiability. It was not really a success. No naturalness about it. It sat on you worse than your sulkiest moods. You reminded me of some cad in dress-clothes trying to catch the note of the ordinary well-bred man. Better be natural. I’ll go on sticking up for you; I’ll persuade father not to pack you off. I’ve a good deal of influence with him. I shall say you’re injuring yourself by not behaving like a sulky boor. Besides, you can’t do it; if your geniality at dinner was an attempt to mimic me, I must tell you that nobody could guess who it was meant for. Vi was very funny about it.”
“Really? What did she say?” asked Raymond.
“Oh, naturally I can’t give her away,” said Colin. “But perhaps you’ll hear her say it again if you’re conveniently placed.”
“You know quite well Vi didn’t say anything about it,” said Raymond at a venture.