He was consumed with
anxiety to ask Edith some questions, but of course he had to be silent.
To show even the slightest interest was impossible--and Edith
volunteered no further information, for that night Eleanor took occasion
to intimate to her that "Mrs. Dale" must not be referred to. "You can't
speak of that kind of person, you know."

"Why not?" Edith said.

"Well, she isn't--nice. She wasn't married. And Edith, it really isn't
good taste to tell a man, right to his face, that he's handsome! I don't
think any man likes flattery."

"You mean because I said Maurice was handsome? I didn't say it to his
face--he was in the library. And it isn't flattery to tell the truth. He
is! As for Mrs. Dale, she _is_ married; this little Jacky was her baby!
She said so. He had the bluest eyes! I never saw such blue eyes--except
Maurice's. 'Course she's not a lady; but I don't see what right you have
to say she isn't nice."

Eleanor, laughing, threw up despairing hands; "Edith, don't you know
_anything_?"

"I know _everything_," Edith said, affronted; "I'm sixteen. Of course I
know what you mean; but Mrs. Dale isn't--that. And," Edith ended, on
the spur of the moment, "and I'm going to see her sometime!" The under
dog always appealed to Edith Houghton, and when Eleanor left her,
appalled by her failure to instill proprieties into her, Edith was
distinctly hot. "I'm not going to see her!" she told herself. "I
wouldn't think of such a thing. But I won't listen to Eleanor abusing
her."

As for Eleanor, she confided her alarm to Maurice. "She mustn't go to
see that woman!"

His instant horrified agreement was a satisfaction to her: "Of _course_
not!"

"She won't listen to _me_," Eleanor complained; "you'll have to tell her
she mustn't."

"I will," he said, grimly.

And the very next day he did. He happened (as it seemed) to start for
his office just as Edith started for school, so they walked along
together.

"Edith," he said, the moment they were clear of his own doorway and
Eleanor's ears; "that Mrs. Dale; I'd keep away from her, if I were you."

"Goodness!" said Edith; "did you suppose I was going to fall into her
arms? Why should I have anything to do with her?"

"Eleanor said you said--"

"Oh, I just said that because Eleanor was down on her, and that made me
mad. I couldn't go and see her, if I was dying to--'cause I don't know
where she lives--unless it was that house she was going into? Do you
know, Mauric