dmiration, and therefore quite
innocent. I am the only woman he loves, and he never even remembers me
when he is in the sacred office. If you could see him come out of the
vestry in his white surplice, with his rapt face and prophetic eyes. So
mystical! So beautiful! You would not wonder that I worship him."

"But I do not understand--how did you meet him socially?"

"I met him at Mrs. Taylor's first. Then he spoke to me one morning as I
came out of church, and the next morning he walked through the park with
me. And after that--all was easy enough."

"I see. What does your father and mother think--or rather, what do they
say?"

"Father always says what he thinks, and mother thinks and says what I
do. This condition simplified matters very much. Basil wrote to father,
and yesterday after dinner he had an interview with him. I expected
it, and was quite prepared for any climax that might come. I wore my
loveliest white frock, and had lilies of the valley in my hair and on
my breast; and father called me 'his little angel' and piously wondered
'how I could be his daughter.' All dinner time I tried to be angelic,
and after dinner I sang 'Little Boy Blue' and some of the songs he
loves; and I felt, when Basil's card came in, that I had prepared the
proper atmosphere for the interview."

"You are really very clever, Dora."

"I tried to continue singing and playing, but I could not; the notes all
ran together, the words were lost. I went to mother's side and put my
hand in hers, and she said softly: 'I can hear your father storming a
little, but he will settle down the quicker for it. I dare say he will
bring Mr. Stanhope in here before long."

"Did he?"

"No. That was Bryce's fault. How Bryce happened to be in the house at
that hour, I cannot imagine; but it seems to be natural for him to drop
into any interview where he can make trouble. However, it turned out all
for the best, for when mother heard Bryce's voice above all the other
sounds, she said, 'Come Dora, we shall have to interfere now.' Then
I was delighted. I was angelically dressed, and I felt equal to the
interview."

"Do you really mean that you joined the three quarreling men?"

"Of course. Mother was quite calm--calm enough to freeze a tempest--but
she gave father a look he comprehended. Then she shook hands with
Basil, and would have made some remark to Bryce, but with his usual
impertinence he took the initiative, and told he: very authoritativel