“It will not do with any of us,” said Kitty, with spirit.
“You won’t tell your father?”
“I shall tell mother, and she can act as she likes.”
“Take care,” said Bell, more seriously. “You don’t want a regular fuss to grow out of a bit of absurdity. What has he done?”
“He has come here in a false position and under false pretences. I think it dreadful. What could make him behave so?”
“Shall I tell you what I believe? That it was laziness or good-nature. I dare say he forgot all about the model, and then was afraid you would be awfully disappointed. Mrs Marchmont said so much about it. It is all over now, and remember, he did his utmost to get out of coming to-day.”
“Mother must judge.”
“Well, I think you are extremely hard on the poor man. You would not have liked it at all if you had waited through yesterday morning and had no model. I am sure he was very uncomfortable himself.”
“And that was the reason he stood so badly!” cried Kitty. “I hope he was uncomfortable.”
“Kitty,” said Bell earnestly, “if I were you I would say nothing about it. You don’t know what mischief you may set going. It is over and done with; he is not coming again, and if you appear to remain in ignorance, you will be in a far more dignified position than if our fathers bring a clatter about his ears. If he really took the character in order to do you a kindly turn, it will be very ungrateful of you to damage his reputation.”