thinks anything about it,' said Theodora, shortly.

CHAPTER 14

I am not yet of Earl Percy's mind.

--King Henry IV

'Violet,' said Theodora, the next morning, 'I want to know if Percy said
more to Arthur than to us?'

She spoke with deepening colour, and Violet's glowed still more, as
she answered: 'Arthur asked him, and he said he would not BEGIN an
acquaintance, but that there was no occasion to break off the ordinary
civilities of society. He accused her of no more than levity. Yes, those
were Arthur's words.'

'I am going to get to the bottom of it,' said Theodora; 'and give
Georgina a thorough lecture.'

She departed; and Violet sat down to her letters, with little Johnnie
crawling at her feet; but in a few minutes she was interrupted by the
entrance of Mr. Fotheringham, asking for Theodora.

'She is gone out. She could not rest without an explanation from Mrs.
Finch.'

'A proper farrago she will hear,' said Percy. 'I found I could settle to
nothing, so I thought it best to come and have it out.'

'I hope she will soon come in.'

'Don't let me interrupt you. Go on with your letters.--Ha! little
master!'

In his present temper, play with the baby was the most congenial
occupation, and he made the little fellow very happy till he was carried
off for his midday sleep. Then he tried to read, but seemed so uneasy,
that Violet wondered if it would be intermeddling to hint at Theodora's
real views. At last, as if he could bear it no longer, he abruptly said,
'Mrs. Martindale, do you know anything of these people?'

'Very little,' she answered. 'Theodora was telling me about them
yesterday, before you came. I believe she only likes them for old
acquaintance' sake.'

'Is it true that she used to go out with them last year?'

'I believe that she did sometimes.'

'At least, I hope that will not happen again.'

'No, I should not think it would. I am sure Theodora does not entirely
approve of Mrs. Finch.'

'She defended her through thick and thin.'

'You shocked her with the suddenness of what you said. She cannot forget
the having been happy together as children; but she thinks as you do,
and disliked the marriage very much. Before you came, she had been
lamenting over Mrs. Finch.'

'Then, it was pure perverseness!'

'If I said so, I wonder what you would answer,' said Violet, with a
bright, arch look.

'I should hear reason,' said Percy, roughly, as if to repel the
sweetnes