Bertie turned for a moment to his sitting-room in quest of evening news, and found Amelie there waiting for him. Her face was a little flushed, and some shadow of trouble clouded it.
' I wanted to see you a moment before dinner,' she said. ' I——— ' And she stopped.
' What is it, dear?' said he gently.
' You know. He, your father, was laughing at her; he made other people laugh at her; he made you laugh. I don't think it was a good joke. There are many sorts of bad breeding; I think he showed one of the worst.'
' I am sorry you take it like that, Amelie,' said he. ' It is true I laughed, but I did not laugh at your mother; I laughed at the comedy of the situation.'
' He made a fool of her,' continued Amelie; ' but I think he made a cad of himself.'
' That is rather strong language,' said Bertie.
' I think it is suitable language. I think you ought to ask him to behave with courtesy to my guests—not with exaggerated courtesy.'
Bertie thought for a moment.
' I will tell him that he hurt your feelings, if you wish,' said he at length.
' That is not the point,' said she.
' For me it is.'
She turned on him a long, luminous look.
' Then you don't understand,' she said. ' My meaning is that I will not have my mother insulted in my house.'
He frowned.
' You make too much of it,' he said.
' You won't do as I ask, then?' she said.
' If you think it over, you will see that it would serve no good purpose.'
She left the window where she was standing, and began to move towards the door.
