‘Not only that, but you made yourself ridiculous; and, above all, Otho, you put a public insult upon your sister by behaving as you did in her presence, with a little vulgar fool like that Dixon girl. It is——’ ‘My sister chose to come poking her nose into my house, and mixing herself with my affairs,’ said Otho, sullenly. ‘She may take the consequences. Let her go home again to her genteel friends, if she objects to what goes on here.’ ‘Bah!’ said Gilbert, with indignation. ‘Have you no sense of decency?’ ‘You are cross, Gilbert; and it’s very late. I’m going to bed, and I advise you to do the same. The lecture to-morrow, when you’ve had time to think things over. Good-night, old fellow.’ He took a candle, nodded to Gilbert, and left the room. His friend slowly followed him, looking altogether more limp and less self-assured than he had done six hours earlier. CHAPTER XXVII RECRIMINATION Roger Camm, leading Ada away, went out into the passage, and stood at the door of the cloak-room, while she put on her shawl and hat, and then came out to him. Her face was still flushed, and more sullen than downcast. She did not look at him, as she said, ‘I am ready.’ He gave her his arm, and they went out, to walk the few hundred yards between the schoolroom and Ada’s home. The cold night air blew upon their heated faces, for Roger, though he looked so pale, was in a fever, and Ada’s heart was hot with anger and disappointment. Nothing was said till they arrived at the side door which led to the house part of Mr. Dixon’s premises. Then Ada observed— ‘Well, I suppose after all this, you won’t want to come in.’ ‘Oh, Ada!’ exclaimed the young man in a voice of reproach, ‘that is cruel. I want to speak to you, of course. I would not go away and leave you alone—the idea!’ ‘Oh, come in, pray! Now that you have spoiled my whole pleasure, and made me a laughing-stock; taking me away, like a baby in disgrace,’ said Ada, in a voice that trembled violently. They went into the house. The astonished servant came out of the kitchen, on hearing the unexpected noise, but retired when she saw who the intruders were. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon were both at the concert. Ada led the way upstairs, to the family sitting-room, and turned up the gas, and gave Roger the prosaic order to poke the fire.