"Had he? I wonder who told him. I don't think I did."
"It was Miss Pring, I believe."
"Oh, very likely. How fresh and beautiful the country looks after the storm! And what a storm it was!"
"Celia made herself ridiculous as usual. And, oh, mother, Uncle Jasper was so disagreeable at tea-time!"
"Was he? How?" Mrs. Wallis inquired, anxiously.
Eric explained all that had taken place; his mother looking grave and concerned as she listened.
"I wish I had remained at home this afternoon," she said, uneasily. "Poor Joy! My dear little girl! It was too bad—" She checked herself suddenly, and continued: "I cannot imagine why Uncle Jasper should be so unjust to her. She took his unkind remark very quietly, you say?"
"Yes, but Celia began to howl at once, and that seemed quite to upset him! I cannot think why he's so fond of Celia, unless it's because she always agrees with what he says, and dances attendance upon him."
"Celia is very sweet-tempered, and desirous of pleasing, and she is wonderfully patient with Uncle Jasper."
"That's what I can't understand, mother. She never used to put herself out of the way for anyone. Oh, I'm not running out against her; but she was never half so obliging, really, as Joy—at least, not to me. Poor Joy! It must be dreadfully hard to be treated so unjustly."