“I wish it had not been Major Stotford who rendered you the service,” he said presently, and faced about and approached the sofa with an expression of worried annoyance on his face. “I am sorry this has happened.”
“Why?” Prudence sat up straighter and punched the cushions viciously. “Why?” she repeated aggressively.
“Because—”
“Do you think it necessary to explain these matters to a child?” Agatha interrupted tartly.
Prudence laughed angrily.
“I’m not a child,” she said. “You can’t keep my mind for ever on a leading string.”
“I think you are unnecessarily excited,” Mr Graynor said in displeased tones. “I doubt whether that is good for you in your present condition.”
“Being thwarted is not good for me in my present condition,” Prudence retorted, but with greater calmness. “You aren’t being fair to me. Why should it be a matter for regret to you that Major Stotford should do me a service? He hadn’t much choice. No man, who wasn’t a brute, could have acted otherwise in the circumstances.”
“No,” Mr Graynor admitted. “It was simply unfortunate. Major Stotford is a man whom I do not care to have in my house, whom I would not choose as an associate for my daughters. He has an evil reputation.”
“Evil!” Prudence sounded a note of incredulity. “In what sense?” she asked.