On the Sunday, when Mr. and Mrs. Kendal went to pay their weekly
visit to Mrs. Meadows, they found the old lady taking a turn in the
garden. And as they were passing by the screen of laurels, Gilbert's
voice was heard very loud, 'That's too bad, Lucy! Grandmamma, don't
believe one word of it!'

'Gilbert, you--you are, I'm sure, very rude to your sister.'

'I'll not stand to hear false stories of Mrs. Kendal!'

'What is all this?' said Mr. Kendal, suddenly appearing, and
discovering Gilbert pirouetting with indignation before Lucy.

Miss Meadows burst out with a shower of half sentences, grandmamma
begged that no notice might be taken of the children's nonsense, Lucy
put on an air of injured innocence, and Gilbert was beginning to
speak, but his father put him aside, saying, 'Tell me what has
happened, Sophia. From you I am certain of hearing the exact truth.'

'Only,' growled Sophy, in her hoarse boy's voice, 'Lucy said mamma
said she would not call on Mrs. Osborn unless you ordered her, and
when you did, she cried and flew into a tremendous passion.'

'Sophy, what a story,' exclaimed Lucy, but Gilbert was ready to
corroborate his younger sister's report.

'You know Lucy too well to attach any importance to her
misrepresentations,' said Mr. Kendal, turning to Mrs. Meadows, 'but I
know not what amends she can make for this most unprovoked slander.
Speak, Lucy, have you no apology to make?'