Wilfred, who had been watching him closely, began slowly to understand. ‘It’s all right, Kit,’ he said good-naturedly. ‘Egbert never counts! He only does it because he’s the eldest and thinks we’ve got to be reminded of it. Peter and I are with you!’
‘Awfully kind of you, I’m sure,’ answered Christopher, sarcastically. All the same, he stopped whistling and seemed inclined to come round; and Peter hastened to put in a conciliating word.
‘Of course, we know you didn’t mean to make the Babe excited,’ he said. ‘Jill says so herself.’
‘Oh, shut up!’ said Kit, ungraciously.
‘As for the Doctor,’ continued Wilfred, ‘anybody is justified in ragging him.’
‘Rather,’ chimed in Peter. ‘What do you think Egbert says about him?’
‘Don’t know and don’t care,’ rejoined Kit. Somehow, he felt it was rather mean to join in abusing the man who had gone out after him, all in the rain and the darkness. Still, he was sure he hated the fellow more than ever now, for had he not outwitted him and put him under an obligation to him at the same time? The boys did not notice his diffidence.
‘Egbert says––’ began Peter, and paused to give his words more effect; ‘Egbert says–that–the Doctor is in love with Jill.’
Christopher sat up and gazed at him. For once his quick wit had not been quite so quick as Egbert’s. So that was why Dr. Hurst had called her ‘Jill’; and that was what he had meant just now by his parting words at the gate!
‘Egbert’s hit it,’ he said morosely. ‘The chap is in love with Jill. Poor Jill!’