"Yes, and he had reason. The McPhersons have all good cause to abhor the very name of gambling," Miss McPherson replied, hitching her chair a little further away from Geraldine as from something poisonous; then, in her characteristic way of suddenly changing the conversation, she said: "You saw my nephew, Neil McPherson?"
"Oh, yes," Mrs. Jerrold replied. "We saw a good deal of him; he is very fine-looking, with such gentlemanly manners for a boy. I should be glad if Grey would imitate him," and she glanced at her son, on whose face a cloud instantly fell.
Miss McPherson saw it, and turning to him she asked:
"How did you like Neil? Boys are sometimes better judges of each other than older people. Did you think him very nice?"
Remembering Miss McPherson's love for the naked truth, Grey spoke out boldly.
"No, madam; at first I did not like him at all. We had a fight!"
"A fight!" Miss McPherson repeated, in surprise, as did both Hannah and Lucy simultaneously, while Mrs. Jerrold interposed:
"I think, Grey, I would not mention that, as it reflects no credit upon you."
"But he insulted me first," Grey replied, and Miss McPherson insisted:
"Tell it, Grey, and do not omit anything, because I am his aunt. Tell it exactly as it was. I want the truth."