your father's and your mother's close friendship
for a man strictly on the business basis, we'll have it that way,"
agreed Mr. Harnden, trying to straightedge his little bunghole of a
mouth and failing.

"Very well, father! We shall get along better. I'm not in any position
to dictate in our home--"

"Well, I should say not!" exploded the master.

"But I have worked and turned in my money to help support it, and I have
my personal rights here."

Mr. Harnden had more success in arranging the expression he assumed
then; he looked hurt; he had been very successful with that expression
in the past. "Any farseeing man has his ups and downs, Vona. Is it kind
to twit your father--"

She protested more impatiently still. "I am simply presenting the
business side of the matter. I say, I have earned some rights to be
comfortable in my own home. On the plea of friendship for a man whom I
detest, you are proposing to destroy that comfort. Is your friendship
for that man greater than your love for your daughter?"

Mr. Harnden rose and stuck out his frontal convexity and wagged a
forefinger. "Now you're getting off the question of business--just
as you accused me of getting off it!" He slapped his breast. "I'm a
business man these days. I'm no longer a man with visions, needing a
daughter's sacrifices, like you have twitted me of being. Keep still!
I'm talking!" he squealed. He was displaying more of the new and cocky
demeanor that had been his for some time. He had been especially set up
for a few days prior to his announcement that Tasper Britt was coming
into the Harnden home as lodger and guest at table. "Business it is!
Britt will pay board enough, seeing that he has come to my--_my_ terms,
so that your mother can keep a hired girl for the first time in her
life. Are you so selfish as to want to have your mother--my wife--go
on potwalloping in the kitchen for the rest of her days? If that's so,
you'll find that my pride will override your selfishness."

"Father, I will stay at home and do all the work, if you'll keep our
home from being desecrated by that man!"

Mr. Harnden reared his crest and advanced one foot. "I have raised my
daughter to be a lady and will keep her so! I'm now in a position to do
it without any of her help."

Vona stood up then. But not to fling angry retort at her father! She
knew that she was able to conquer the raging self that was urging her
to tell both of them what she thought of their idi