“What--?” asked Caroline, startled; and Jessie, the only other person in the room, put down her work, and listened with a strange air of determination. “My dear, I am afraid it is very painful.” “Tell me at once, Ellen.” “I can’t think how he learnt it. But they have been about with all sorts of odd people.” “Who? What, Ellen? Are you accusing my boy?” said Caroline, her limbs beginning to tremble and her eyes to flash, though she spoke as quietly as she could. “Now do compose yourself, my dear. I dare say the poor little fellow knew no better, and he has had a severe lesson.” “If you would only tell me, Ellen.” “It seems,” said Ellen, with much regret and commiseration, “that all this was from poor little Armine using such shocking language that Rob, as a senior boy, you know, put him under the pump at last to put a stop to it.” Before Caroline’s fierce, incredulous indignation had found a word, Jessie had exclaimed “Mamma!” in a tone of strong remonstrance; then, “Never mind, Aunt Carey, I know it is only Mrs. Coffinkey, and Johnny promised he would tell the whole story if any one brought that horrid nonsense to you about poor little Armine.” Kind, gentle Jessie seemed quite transported out of herself, as she flew to the door and called Johnny, leaving the two mothers looking at each other, and Ellen, somewhat startled, saying “I’m sure, if it is not true, I’m very sorry, Caroline, but it came from--” She broke off, for Johnny was scuffling across the hall, calling out “Holloa, Jessie, what’s up?” “Johnny, she’s done it!” said Jessie. “You said if the wrong one was accused you would tell the whole story!” “And what do they say?” asked John, who was by this time in the room. “Mamma has been telling Aunt Carey that Rob put poor little Armine under the pump for using bad language.” “I say!” exclaimed John; “if that is not a cram!” “You said you knew nothing of it,” said his mother. “I said I didn’t do it. No more I did,” said John. “No more did Rob, I am sure,” said his mother. But Johnny, though using no word of denial, made it evident that she was mistaken, as he answered in an odd tone of excuse, “Armie was cheeky.” “But he didn’t use bad words!” said Caroline, and she met a look of comfortable response. “Let us hear, John,” said his mother, now the most agitated. “I can’t believe that Rob would so ill-treat a little fellow like Armie, even if he did lose his temper for a moment. Was Armine impertinent?” “Well, rather,” said John. “He wouldn’t do Rob’s French exercise.” And then--as the ladies cried out, he added--“O yes, he knows ever so much more French than Rob, and now Bobus is gone Rob could not get anyone else.” “Bobus?” “O yes, Bobus would do anybody’s exercises at a penny for Latin, two for French, and three for Greek,” said John, not aware of the shock he gave. “And Armine would not?” said his mother. “Was that it?”