Marian's distress increased, she was equally wretched at her brother's increasing misbehaviour and at its punishment, It was provoking to see Johnny walking about in all the grandeur and self-consequence of being quite out of the scrape, and evidently rejoicing that Gerald was in it; it was provoking to hear Miss Morley and the girls wondering, even Saunders' pity was provoking, and there was nothing that gave her the least comfort but the perception that Lionel was certainly graver and more subdued.
She was allowed to go to her brother for a little while that evening, with some hope that she might prevail with him. She found him leaning against the window in the failing light, listlessly watching the horses and grooms in the mews, which his high window overlooked. He turned his head as she came in, but without speaking, and then looked back at the window, till she came up to him, put her arm round his neck and turned his face towards her. It was a sullen, dogged countenance, such as she had seldom or never seen him wear before.
'Gerald, dear Gerald, what is the meaning of this? You never used to behave so?'
'I never was served so before,' muttered he.
'You have drawn it on yourself. Why will you not submit and ask her pardon?'
'What should I ask pardon for? I said nothing but the truth.'
'How can you say so. Gerald? Did you not know that you ought not to scribble in books? Can you say that Miss Morley has not often spoken to you about the Atlas?'
'If you call 'O Sir Gerald!' and 'O you sad boy,' desiring me in a rational way, I don't,' said Gerald, imitating the tones, 'laughing and letting me go on; I thought she liked it.'
'Now seriously, Gerald.'
'Well, I mean that she did not care. If people tell me a thing they should make me mind them.'
'You should mind without being made, Gerald.
'I would if I thought them in earnest. But now, Marian, was it not a horrid shame of her to speak just as if I had been always disobeying her on purpose, making Mrs. Lyddell go into a rage with me for what was entirely her own fault?'
'No, no, Gerald, you cannot say it was her fault that you spoilt the picture.'
'I think she ought to beg my pardon for telling such stories about me,' repeated Gerald sullenly.
'Recollect yourself, Gerald, you know she meant that she had put you in mind that you ought not; and don't you think that, true or not, your speech was very rude?'
'If I was to beg her pardon it would mean that she spoke the truth, which she did not, for she never took any pains to prevent me from drawing in the map-book, or any where else.'
'It would not mean any such thing if you were to say, 'Miss Morley, I misunderstood you, and I am sorry I was so rude.' I am sure you must be sorry for that, for it was not at all like a gentleman. Will you come and say so?'
'You're like the rest,' mumbled Gerald, turning his back upon her, and sitting like a stock.
'Don't you think it would be the best way? Would it not make you happier? O what is the use of being obstinate and disobedient? Think of going to school in disgrace. O! Gerald, Gerald, what is to be done?'
Still she spoke with earnest pauses and anxious looks, but without the least effect, and at last she said, 'Well, Gerald, I must go, and very much grieved I am. How would dear mamma like to see her little boy going on in this way?'
