“You don’t need mamma to tell you.”
“Tell me, then, Jem. What did I say or do?”
“You didn’t say or do anything. You were stiff and stupid. Mamma must have seen it.”
“No, Jem, I did not. If you mean that Violet’s manner to Mr Philip is not the same as to you and Davie—why, you know, it can’t quite be that.”
“No, because Violet made up her mind long ago that Philip Oswald was a foolish young man—‘not in earnest,’ as she used to say. Letty can’t bear people that are not quite perfect,” said Jem.
Letty laughed, and so did her mother.
“Thank you, Jem. That is as much as saying that I consider myself quite perfect.”
“Oh! you may laugh,” said Jem, loftily; “but if Phil, hasn’t proved himself steady enough by this time, I don’t know what you would have! There are not many would have staid it out, under old Caldwell, and have done as he has done. To say nothing about the business not being a very pleasant one.”
“He has improved very much,” said Mrs Inglis.
“And, now, when he and Davie are such friends,” went on Jem, who did not know when he had said enough. “I think if Davie approves of him, that ought to be enough for Violet.”