'Oh yes, of course, if you like,' he answered, in a rather off-hand tone, 'or we could bring you a cup into the drawing-room; mamma often has it like that.'
For it was rather before the days of regular drawing-room 'afternoon' teas.
'Thank you,' replied his aunt. 'I should much rather have it in the schoolroom, and if Miss Ward isn't better, I can pour it out for you.'
'She's sure to be better by tea-time,' said Hec. 'She always is'—without much satisfaction in his voice.
But this did not alter Aunt Mattie's choice. To tell the truth, she thought it a good opportunity to see how things were going on in the schoolroom in her sister's absence.
Just then a bell sounded.
'That is the tea-bell,' said Archie. 'Come along. The first in the schoolroom to sit beside auntie.'
Off they set, all except little Gervais, but they had not gone many paces before Pat turned back again.
'What's the matter?' said his aunt, and then she felt sorry that she had said anything, when she saw it was an effort on the boy's part to behave politely to the ladies of the party.
'Oh,' he replied, rather gruffly, 'I think I had better carry Ger down till we get to the paddock.'