“I ought to have done so on the instant.”

“Oh, no!” said Mrs. Grose with decision.

“I’ll put it before him,” I went on inexorably, “that I can’t undertake to work the question on behalf of a child who has been expelled⁠—”

“For we’ve never in the least known what!” Mrs. Grose declared.

“For wickedness. For what else⁠—when he’s so clever and beautiful and perfect? Is he stupid? Is he untidy? Is he infirm? Is he ill-natured? He’s exquisite⁠—so it can be only that ; and that would open up the whole thing. After all,” I said, “it’s their uncle’s fault. If he left here such people⁠—!”