Don't tell anyone but May--I mean about the scrape.
"Your devoted brother, "LOFTUS." Catherine read this letter twice, once to herself, then aloud for Mabel's benefit.
"Now, what's up ?" exclaimed Mabel.

"It must be very bad.

He never calls you 'dearest;' unless it's awfully bad.

Does he, Kitty ?" "No," said Catherine.

"Poor mother," she added then, and she gave a profound and most ungirlish sigh.
"Why, Catherine, you have been grumbling at mother all day! You have been feeling so cross about her." "You never will understand, Mabel! I grumble at mother for her frettiness, but I love her, I pity her for her sorrows." Mabel looked full into her sister's face.
"I confess I don't understand you," she said.