Charley stared at her grave tone, but it all flashed upon him directly. Nathalie was used to talk to him more as a mother than a sister, in her superior woman's wisdom, and Charley was accustomed to take her lectures cheerfully enough; but in the damp darkness his face flushed rebelliously now.
He would not speak again, and his sister, after waiting a moment, broke the silence herself.
"It is about that girl, Charley?"
"What girl?" inquired Mr. Marsh, rather sulkily.
"You know well enough—Cherrie Nettleby."
"Well, what of Cherrie Nettleby?" this time defiantly.
"Charley, what do you mean by going with her as you do?"
"Nathalie," said Charley, mimicking her tone, "what do you mean by going with Captain Cavendish as you do?"
"My going with Captain Cavendish has nothing whatever to do with it; but if you want to know what I mean—I mean to marry him!"
"Nathalie, I don't want you to have anything to do with that man," Charley burst out passionately. "He is a villain!"