only found it out--because he found that seat for you, and papa sent
him away with you. They only meant to poke fun, and it was his
caring that made it come home to him. I wonder you don't like to
find that such a fellow stood up for you.'

'I don't like to be made ridiculous.'

'Tom does not know it, and shall not,' eagerly interposed Aubrey.

'Thank you,' said she, with all her heart.

'Then don't be savage. You know he can't help it if he does think
you so handsome, and it is very hard that you should be affronted
with him, just when he can't see out of one of his eyes.'

'For that matter,' said Ethel, her voice trembling, 'one likes
generosity in any sort of a cause; but as to this, the only way is to
laugh at it.'

Aubrey thought this 'only way' hardly taken by the cachinnation with
which she left him, for he was sure that her eyes were full of tears;
and after mature consideration he decided that he should only get
into a fresh scrape by letting Leonard know that she was aware of the
combat and its motive.

'If I were ten years younger, this might be serious,' meditated
Ethel. 'Happily, it is only a droll adventure for me in my old age,
and I have heard say that a little raving for a grown-up woman is a
wholesome sort of delusion, at his time of life. So I need not worry
about it, and it is pretty and touching while it lasts, good fellow!'