Matt, flushing afresh under his reproachful gaze, did not attempt to deny it.
“Well, if that’s your idea of cousinly behavior, or even decent behavior—” said Herbert, witheringly.
“I—I didn’t mean to deceive you,” Matt stammered, apologetically. “You all took it for granted I was well-to-do. All I said was I had money enough to go along with, and so I thought I had.”
“Yes, but when I asked you for the pony, you consented at once. I gave you an opportunity to explain, but instead of that you intensified the original false impression.”
Matt was silent.
“And now you’ve put me into the wretched position of owing money, which I can’t pay, to a poor relation from whom I never would have borrowed it, had he been frank and truthful.”
Now both were silent, meditating the painful situation.
“Then you’ve got no money at all?” said Herbert at last, in stern accents, in which a note of astonishment still lingered.
Matt shook his head. His throat felt parched. “Unless you can pay me,” he murmured.
Herbert’s face softened, his tones became sympathetic.