e, and I told her you were so
anxious to dance with her----"

"Here!" he cried. "Look here! I'd rather do my own----"

"Yes; that's just it," Mrs. Dowling explained. "I just thought it was
such a good opportunity; and Henrietta said she had most of her dances
taken, but she'd give you one if you asked her before they were all
gone. So I thought you'd better see her as soon as possible."

Dowling's face had become rosy. "I refuse to do anything of the kind."

"Bad fellow!" said his mother, gaily. "I thought this would be the best
time for you to see Henrietta, because it won't be long till all her
dances are gone, and you've promised on your WORD to dance the next with
Ella, and you mightn't have a chance to do it then. I'm sure Miss Adams
won't mind if you----"

"Not at all," Alice said.

"Well, _I_ mind!" he said. "I wish you COULD understand that when I
want to dance with any girl I don't need my mother to ask her for me. I
really AM more than six years old!"

He spoke with too much vehemence, and Mrs. Dowling at once saw how
to have her way. As with husbands and wives, so with many fathers and
daughters, and so with some sons and mothers: the man will himself be
cross in public and think nothing of it, nor will he greatly mind a
little crossness on the part of the woman; but let her show agitation
before any spectator, he is instantly reduced to a coward's slavery.
Women understand that ancient weakness, of course; for it is one of
their most important means of defense, but can be used ignobly.

Mrs. Dowling permitted a tremulousness to become audible in her voice.
"It isn't very--very pleasant--to be talked to like that by your own
son--before strangers!"

"Oh, my! Look here!" the stricken Dowling protested. "_I_ didn't
say anything, mother. I was just joking about how you never get over
thinking I'm a little boy. I only----"

Mrs. Dowling continued: "I just thought I was doing you a little favour.
I didn't think it would make you so angry."

"Mother, for goodness' sake! Miss Adams'll think----"

"I suppose," Mrs. Dowling interrupted, piteously, "I suppose it doesn't
matter what _I_ think!"

"Oh, gracious!"

Alice interfered; she perceived that the ruthless Mrs. Dowling meant to
have her way. "I think you'd better go, Frank. Really."

"There!" his mother cried. "Miss Adams says so, herself! What more do
you want?"

"Oh, gracious!" he lamented again, and, with a sick look over his
shoulder at Ali