is."

"For the sake of your family I intend to stay, Henry. You will have to
submit. I do not leave this room until you submit. What is more, you have
to do something further. I want you to give me authority over your
children. The moment I have it--I want it in writing, remember--I will
leave you; and I will trouble you in the future as little as woman can
trouble man. You will have better meals; but that you won't care about."

"The coffee," murmured Mr. Dale.

"Yes, you will have plenty of that delicious coffee. You will also have
cleaner rooms."

"This room is not to be touched; you understand?"

"For the present we will let that matter lie in abeyance. Come, give me
your authority in writing, and I leave the room; but if you don't, I stay
in this chair--your chair, Henry Dale--all night if necessary."

If ever there was a poor, bewildered man, it was Mr. Dale at that moment.
He did not give many thoughts to anything on earth but his beloved
studies; but, all the same, when he had time for a momentary reflection
that he possessed girls, he felt that he quite liked them. In his own
fashion he was fond of Verena; and once when Briar had a very bad cold he
sat with her for a very few minutes, and recommended her to try snuff. He
did not wish to make his children unhappy, and he thought that the advent
of Miss Tredgold would have that effect on them. But, after all, a
determined woman like her must be humored; and what were the children
compared to his own most valuable work? In the days to come they would be
proud to own him. He would be spoken of as the very great English scholar
whose rendering of Virgil was the most perfect that had ever been put
into English prose. Oh! it was impossible to hesitate another moment. The
woman was in his chair, and his thoughts were leaving him.

"Madam," he said, "you have taken me at a cruel disadvantage. I am
seriously sorry for my poor children."

"Never mind about that now, Henry. You are, I perceive, a wise man. You
can rest assured that I will do what is best both for you and for them."

"Very well, madam, I yield."

"You give me absolute authority to do what I think best for your
children?"

"Ye--s."

"To reorganize this household?"

"Not this room."

"With the exception of this room."

"I suppose so."

"You will uphold my authority when the girls come to you, as perhaps they
will, and ask you to interfere?"

"Oh, Sophia, you won't be hard on the poor chi