Kitty called out to him, but Dan did not stay to talk.

"Where's father?" he asked, turning a very flushed but very triumphant
face towards them, and waving his basket proudly.

"In the dining-room," said Kitty, and Dan hastened on. His face fell a
little, though, when he saw the table, and his father already eating.

"I'm awfully sorry I'm late," he said disappointedly. "I thought I
should have been in heaps of time. I've got you some jolly fine trout,
father. I meant them for your supper. Just look! Aren't they
beauties?" and he thrust his basket over the table and held it right
under his father's nose. The mud and green slime dripped on tablecloth
and silver and on the bread, and even on Dr. Trenire's plate and the
food he was eating.

The doctor's much-tried patience gave way at last. "Look at the mess
you are making--all over my food too! Look at the filth you have
brought in!" he exclaimed angrily. "Take it away! take it away!
What do you mean by coming into the room in that condition, bringing a
filthy thing like that and pushing it under my very nose when you see I
am eating? And why, Dan, once more, are you not here and decently neat,
when a meal is ready? It is perfectly disgraceful. Here am I, and
supper has been on the table I don't know how long, and only one of you
is ready to sit down with me. Anthony is in bed, or somewhere else,
Kitty is racing the house to find him, and you--I am ashamed of you,
sir, for coming into a room in such a condition. You are perfectly
hopeless. Here, take away my plate, take everything; you have quite
spoilt my appetite. I couldn't eat another mouthful at such a table!"
and Dr. Trenire rose in hot impatience and flung out of the room.