“What is the whole thing?” said Lady Jane.
“Went out in a bit of a yacht,” said Sir Charles, “clear up a bet, that was why we did it. Caught in a gale—my fault, not Algy’s—says he saw it coming—I——”
“You were otherwise occupied, Charlie——”
“Shut up!” Sir Charles was the speaker this time, with a kick in the direction of his companion in trouble.
“I am glad to see you’ve got some grace left,” said Lady Jane. “Not you, Algy, you are beyond that—I know all about it, however. It was little Stella Tredgold who ran away with you—or you with her.”
Algy burst into a loud laugh. Sir Charles on his part said nothing, but pulled his long moustache.
“Which is it? And what were the rights of it? and was there any meaning in it? or merely fun, as you call it in your idiotic way?”
“By Jove!” was all the remark the chief culprit made. Algy on his sofa kicked up his feet and roared again.
“Please don’t think,” said Lady Jane, “that I am going to pick my words to please you. I never do it, and especially not to a couple of boys whom I have known since ever they were born, and before that. What do you mean by it, if it is you, Charlie Somers? I suppose, by Algy’s laugh, that he is not the chief offender this time. You know as well as I do that you’re not a man to take little girls about. I suppose you must have sense enough to know that, whatever good opinion you may have of yourself. Stella Tredgold may be a little fool, but she’s a girl I have taken up, and I don’t mean to let her be compromised. A girl that knew anything would have known better than to mix up her name with yours. Now what is the meaning of it? You will just be so good as to inform me.”
“Why, Cousin Jane, it was all the little thing herself.”