When they went away Archie, who had listened very closely to the conversation, said: 'What a lot of manners Mr Coniston has! What did he mean by saying that Spanish painters painted a man in a gramophone?' Edith racked her brain to remember the sentence. Then she said, with a laugh: 'Oh yes, I know! Mr Coniston said: "The Spanish artists painted--to a man--in monochrome." I can't explain it, Archie. It doesn't matter. Why did you leave Miss Clay and come back to us?' 'Why, I like her all right, but you get tired of talking to women. I get bored with Dilly sometimes.' 'Then you're looking forward to going back to school?' 'I shall like the society of boys of my own sex again,' he said grandly. 'You're not always very nice to Dilly, Archie. I've noticed when anything is given to her, you always snatch at it. You must remember Ladies first.' 'Yes, that's all very well. But then Dilly takes it all, and only gives me what's left.' Archie looked solemn. CHAPTER XII 'Edith,' said Bruce, next morning, with some importance of manner, 'I've had a letter from Aylmer--Aylmer Ross, you know--asking me, _most_ particularly, to call on him.' 'Oh, really,' said Edith, who knew it already, as she had asked him to write to Bruce. 'He wants me to come at half-past four,' said Bruce, looking over the letter pompously. 'Four-thirty, to the minute. I shall certainly do it. I shan't lose a minute.' 'I'm afraid you'll have to lose a few minutes,' said Edith. 'It's only ten o'clock.' Bruce stared at her, folded up the letter, and put it in his pocket. He thought it would be a suitable punishment for her not to see it. Obviously he was not in the best of humours. Not being sure what was wrong, Edith adopted the simple plan of asking what he meant. 'What do I mean!' exclaimed Bruce, who, when his grievances, were vague, relied on such echoes for his most cutting effects. 'You ask me what I mean? Mean, indeed!' He took some toast and repeated bitterly: 'Ah! You may well ask me what I mean!' 'May I? Well, what were the observations you didn't approve of?' 'Why ... what you said. About several minutes being lost before half-past four.' 'Oh, Bruce dear, I didn't mean any harm by it.' 'Harm, indeed!' repeated Bruce. 'Harm! It isn't a question of actual harm. I don't say that you meant to injure me, nor even, perhaps, to hurt my feelings. But it's a way of speaking--a tone--that I think extremely _deplace_, from you to me. Do you follow me, Edith? From _you_ to _me_.' 'That's a dark saying. Well, whatever I said I take it back, if you don't like it. Will that do?' Bruce was mollified, but wouldn't show it at once. 'Ah,' he said, 'that's all very well. These sort of things are not so easily taken back. You should think before you speak. Prevention is better than cure.' 'Yes, and a stitch in time saves nine--though it doesn't rhyme. And it's no good crying over spilt milk, and two heads are better than one. But, really, Bruce, I didn't mean it.'