'That is not true!' cried Gerald, in a loud, startling voice.
'Gerald,' said Mrs. Lyddell, 'that is no proper manner of speaking; you have behaved very ill already--do not add to your fault. Before any more is said, beg Miss Morley's pardon.'
There was a silence, and she repeated, 'I desire that you will ask Miss Morley's pardon directly--still silent? what is the meaning of this?'
Gerald stood bolt upright, and very rigid; poor Marian glancing appealingly, first at him, then at Mrs. Lyddell, then at Miss Morley, all equally without effect. She saw it all--that he might have been brought to own that be had done wrong about this individual case; but that the sweeping accusation of disobeying orders, which, as they all knew, were never given with anything like decision, had roused a proud, determined sense of injustice, and that he was ready to suffer anything rather than apologise. She was wild to speak, to do something; yet what could she attempt?
Mrs. Lyddell would not begin upon the book-scribbling subject till she had conquered the spirit of defiance, and continued to insist on his begging Miss Morley's pardon; but the more she ordered, the more determined he grew. There he stood, his proud, dark eye fixed on a picture on the wall, his lip curled with a sort of disdain, and an expression in his whole motionless figure that, had his cause but been good, would have been resolution, whereas it now was only indomitable self-will and pride.
At any rate, it was an expression that showed that he was not to be conquered by woman, though he might have been won over by her: and Mrs. Lyddell had tact enough to give up the battle without owning herself defeated, and without further discussion said, 'Go to your own room, Gerald; I shall give you time to reflect and get the better of your obstinacy. You may come here again when you are ready to ask Miss Morley to forgive you for your very improper conduct towards her.'
Without turning to the right or left,--without one look towards his sister, Gerald walked out of the room, and even shut the door after him gently. Poor Marian, who could guess all that she felt?
'This is very extraordinary,' said Mrs. Lyddell, 'so well-behaved a boy as he is in general.'
'Ah! boys of his age always get quite beyond ladies' management,' said Miss Morley.
'Such determined obstinacy!' said Mrs. Lyddell.
'Perhaps he did not understand you,' said Marian, unable to keep from saying something, though she could not in her agitation think of anything to the purpose.
'Understand? that is nonsense, Marian. What was there to understand? He spoke very improperly, find I desire him to apologise; and if he is obstinate, it is very wrong of you to defend him.'
Marian was silenced, though her heart was swelling and her temples throbbing. In another minute Mrs. Lyddell was summoned to some more company, and Marian had nothing worse to hear than her companions' commiseration for the book, and declarations that India rubber would do it no good.
The afternoon passed away, and nothing was heard of Gerald: indeed, Marian understood him well enough to expect that nothing would be heard. As she was on her way to her own room, looking wistfully at his door, Lionel overtook her; and thumping her hard on the back, exclaimed, 'Isn't it a jolly beast, Marian?'
'O, Lionel, it was very naughty of you. How could you make Gerald behave so ill?'
'Never mind, Marian, he will get out of it soon enough. Come, don't be savage; we did it all for your good.'
'My good! how can you talk such nonsense?'
'Why, I'll bet you anything you like, that mamma will never be for having the little beastie down to show the company.'
