Father related the story of Von Marlo and the poached egg to the other children.
“He is a chivalrous fellow, and I shall talk to him about it when I see him, and thank him. I was very rude to him just now; but as to you, Alex and Charley, if you ever let it leak out at college that he did this thing, or turn him into ridicule on account of it, you won’t hear the last of it from me. It’s a right good flogging either of you’ll get, so just keep your own counsel. And now, boys, if I don’t mistake, it’s time for you to get to your books.—Rachel, my dear, you and your friends can entertain one another; but would it not be nicest and more cheerful if you first of all requested the presence of Hannah to remove the tea-things?”
As father spoke he bowed to the girls, marched the boys in front of him out of the room, and closed the door behind him.
“Well, I never!” exclaimed Agnes. “To be sure, Dumps, you do have exciting times in this house!”
“I am very glad you have enjoyed it,” I said, and I sat down and pushed my hair away from my face.
“How flushed your cheeks are! And where is the Knight of the Poached Egg? What a very funny boy he must be!”
“But you two mustn’t tell the story about him either,” I said. “I mean, if you have any friends at the college, you mustn’t relate it, for they might laugh, and he was really very chivalrous. Father thinks a lot of him; I can see that. And as to me, I think he is the most chivalrous boy I have ever come across in the whole course of my life.”
“Oh, that’s because he said you were pretty. That’s a foreigner’s way of talking. Alex spoke about it when you had gone out of the room. He said of course his sister was good-looking; he would always stand up for his sister; but it was a foreigner’s way.”
As Agnes spoke she raised her somewhat piquant little face and glanced at me, as much as to say, “Poor Dumps! you are very plain, but of course your own people must stand up for you.”
“Well, we can have some games now,” I said, forcing myself to turn the conversation.