of Antonia's great ideas was on all occasions to strike while the
iron is hot. It was her plan to leap over obstacles or to push them
vigorously aside. She had no respect for people's corns. Their
preconceived prejudices were nothing to her. Having succeeded in
disturbing Susy, she now went straight to her mother's room. Mrs.
Bernard Temple was seated in an easy chair by the open window, enjoying
a quiet ten minutes for thought and rest before It was time for her to
dress for dinner. Pinkerton was moving about putting the different
accessories for her mistress's toilet in order. Antonia pushed her
almost rudely aside as she swept across the room.

"Go away, Pinkerton," she said, "I want to speak to mother by herself."

"Oh, really, not at present, Antonia," said Mrs. Bernard Temple, with a
look of alarm spreading over her high-class features. "I have gone
through a great deal to-day and am quite tired, and I shall have to
begin to dress for dinner in a few minutes. Sir John is very particular
about my appearance, and I wish Pinkerton to try the effect of arranging
my hair in a new manner. I thought, Pinkerton, that you might pile it up
high on a sort of cushion--it has a very old-picture effect."

"You ought to wear a cap," said Antonia, standing in front of her
parent; "it would be much more suitable and appropriate, and would save
you a lot of trouble."

"A cap!" almost screamed Mrs. Bernard Temple. "To hear you speak,
Antonia, one would think that I was advanced in years."

"As it's only I who think that, it doesn't matter, mother," said
Antonia. "You shall wear your hair any way you please, only I really
must have a little talk with you first. The sooner I begin my talk the
sooner it will be over, so please go away at once, Pinkerton."

Pinkerton knew Antonia too well to dream of disobeying her. She left the
room, slamming the door behind her, and Mrs. Bernard Temple looked up at
her resolute daughter with a frown between her brows.

"Now, out with it, whatever it is," she said. "You have got something at
the back of your head, and you can say it in ten words as well as
twenty. What do you want me to do?"

"You have great influence with Sir John Thornton, haven't you, mother?"
asked Antonia, kneeling down as she spoke by the open window, and
leaning one pointed elbow on the sill. Mrs. Bernard Temple permitted
herself to smile agreeably.

"A man's _fiancee_ has generally influence over him," she said in a
s