“And the obstinate old gentleman has not unbounded confidence in the powers of you and Harry?” said Arthur, laughing. “Upon the whole I think, in the absence of your brother, it is as well, that you two lads should have some check upon you, now and then.”
“Not at all, I assure you,” said Charlie. “As for Harry—Miss Elliott, I wish I could tell you half the kind things I hear about Harry from our correspondents out there.”
Graeme smiled brightly. She was permitting herself to rely entirely upon Harry now.
“But, Charlie,” said Will from his corner, “what is this nonsense you have been telling Harry about Arthur and the beautiful Miss Grove?”
Charlie started and coloured, and so did Graeme, and both glanced hastily at Arthur, who neither started nor coloured, as Graeme was very glad to perceive.
“Nonsense!” said Charlie, with a great show of astonishment and indignation. “I don’t understand you, Will.”
“Will,” said Rose, laughing, “you are mistaken. It was Mr Green who had been hinting to Harry something you remember; you read it to us the other morning.”
“Yes, but Harry said that Charlie had been saying something of the same kind,” persisted simple Will, who never dreamed of making any one feel uncomfortable.
“Hinting!” repeated Charlie. “I never hint. I leave that to Mrs Gridley and her set. I think I must have told Harry that I had seen Arthur in the Grove carriage one morning, and another day standing beside it talking to Miss Fanny, while her mamma was in ordering nice things at Alexander’s.”
Graeme laughed, she could not help it.