Though he uttered these words in a tone of biting sarcasm and with what he fondly imagined to be a sarcastic smile, even William felt them to be rather feeble and added hastily in his normal manner:
“’Fraid I’ll eat up all the cakes, I s’pose? Well, I will if I get the chance.”
“William, dear,” said Mrs. Brown, roused to effort by the horror of the vision thus called up, “do you think it’s quite fair to your friends to desert them like this? It’s the only half-holiday in the week, you know.”
“Oh, ’s all right,” said William. “I’ve told ’em I’m not comin’. They’ll get on all right.”
“Oh, yes, they’ll be all right,” said Ethel in a meaning voice and William could think of no adequate reply.
But William was determined to be at home that afternoon. He knew that Laurence Hinlock, Ethel’s latest admirer, was expected and William wished to study at near quarters the delicate art of courtship. He realised that he could not marry Miss Dobson for many years to come, but he did not see why his courtship of her should not begin at once.... He was going to learn how it was done from Laurence Hinlock and Ethel....
He spent the earlier part of the afternoon collecting a few more insects for his empty boxes. He was still mourning bitterly the loss of Albert. He deliberately did not catch a stag beetle that crossed his path because he was sure that it was not Albert. He found an earwig that showed distinct signs of intelligence and put it in a large, airy box with a spider for company and some leaves and crumbs and a bit of raspberry jam for nourishment. He did not give it marmalade because marmalade reminded him so poignantly of Albert....
Then he went indoors. There were several people in the drawing-room. He greeted them rather coldly, his eye roving round the while for what he sought. He saw it at last.... Ethel and a tall, lank young man sitting in the window alcove in two comfortable chairs, talking vivaciously and confidentially. William took a chair from the wall and carried it over to them, put it down by the young man’s chair, and sat down.
“DON’T YOU WANT TO GO AND PLAY WITH YOUR
FRIENDS?” ASKED THE YOUNG MAN.