"Understand? that is nonsense, Marian. What was there to understand? He spoke very improperly, find I desire him to apologise; and if he is obstinate, it is very wrong of you to defend him." Marian was silenced, though her heart was swelling and her temples throbbing. In another minute Mrs. Lyddell was summoned to some more company, and Marian had nothing worse to hear than her companions' commiseration for the book, and declarations that India rubber would do it no good. The afternoon passed away, and nothing was heard of Gerald: indeed, Marian understood him well enough to expect that nothing would be heard. As she was on her way to her own room, looking wistfully at his door, Lionel overtook her; and thumping her hard on the back, exclaimed, "Isn't it a jolly beast, Marian?" "O, Lionel, it was very naughty of you. How could you make Gerald behave so ill?" "Never mind, Marian, he will get out of it soon enough. Come, don't be savage; we did it all for your good." "My good! how can you talk such nonsense?" "Why, I'll bet you anything you like, that mamma will never be for having the little beastie down to show the company." Marian half smiled; it was pleasant to find that, towards her at least, the boys' intention had been anything but unkind, but still she hardly knew how to be placable with Lionel when he had led her brother into mischief, and then left him to bear all the blame. "It was very wrong," she repeated. "Come, don't be cross, Marian. You don't mean that you really cared for that trumpery picture?" "I did not care for it so much," said she, "but it was a valuable book, and it was very kind of your papa to give it to me, so I was sorry to have it spoilt." "Won't it rub out?" said Lionel. "No, of course not." "I thought pencil always did." "And then, Lionel, why could you not have thought what disgrace you were leading Gerald into?" "You don't think, Marian, I was going to be shabby enough to leave Gerald alone in the scrape? No, if I do, I'll give you leave to tell of me or do whatever you please; but you see now he is not in disgrace for drawing that pretty little beast, but for giving poor unfortunate a bit of his mind, so what use would there be in my putting my neck into the noose before my time? No, if Gerald is the fellow I take him for, and stands out about begging her pardon, the whole business of the book will blow over, and we shall hear no more of it." Marian shook her head. "O, Lionel, if you would only think whether a thing is right before you do it!" "How can you wish me to be so stupid, Marian?" "I am sure, Lionel, the funniest, merriest people that I know, think most about what is right." "Well, that may do in Devonshire perhaps," said Lionel, stretching himself, "but it won't here except with you. Indeed there is nobody else that I know of that does make such a fuss about right and wrong, except Walter, and he hasn't got an atom of fun to bless himself with."