"That boy ... that _boy_ ... _that boy_!" was all she could say.

William was hurried away by his family before she could regain speech.

"You've disgraced us publicly," said Mrs. Brown plaintively. "I
thought you must have gone _mad_. People will never forget it. I
might have known...."

When pressed for an explanation William would only say:

"Well, I felt hot. I felt awful hot, an' I di'n't like Cuthbert."

He appeared to think this sufficient explanation, though he was fully
prepared for the want of sympathy displayed by his family.

"Well," he said firmly, "I'd just like to see you do it, I'd just like
to see you be in the head and that ole rug an' have to say stupid
things an'--an' see folks you don't like, an' I bet you'd _do_
something."

But he felt that public feeling was against him, and relapsed sadly
into silence. From the darkness in front of them came the sound of
Cuthbert's wailing as Mrs. Clive led her two charges home.

"_Poor_ little Cuthbert!" said Mrs. Brown. "If I were Joan, I don't
think I'd ever speak to you again."

"Huh!" ejaculated William scornfully.