Eugenia scolded Charles and then Louis. "Ask mamma," she said, "whether that is the proper manner of behaving to your aunt."
"In what respect, then, do you find I behave so much amiss?" returned Charles, hastily. "You would do just the same in my place."
"I! by no means; when I want to do anything I ask permission; there is surely no great trouble in that."
"But what permission have I to ask of her?"
"That you know best,—permission to look out at the window, if she requires it; it would be no great hardship after all."
"That, certainly, would be very pretty for a boy!" said Charles.
"It would seem, then, that it is more becoming in a boy to be unreasonable, than it is in a girl?"
"Pshaw! Eugenia," said Louis, ill-humouredly, as he took Charles by the arm to lead him away from his sister; "you know nothing about the matter; and besides, what you say is only an affectation."
"I am sure," replied Eugenia, offended in her turn, "that you give yourself airs; it costs you but little to make rude speeches."
They quarrelled, then became reconciled. Louis found in Eugenia's advice much that resembled the counsels of his mother; and he was only the more distressed by dimly perceiving that he was in the wrong, without exactly knowing how to set himself right. The fact was, that Louis was disposed to comply with the wishes of his aunt, provided she required nothing that was troublesome to him; and willing to treat her with complaisance, provided she never interfered with his inclinations; which certainly was setting himself no very difficult task.