“No.  Don’t dare.  It would only make it worse for me to tackle her.  Neither she nor Ted will stand any interference from me.  We are a cranky lot I am afraid.  We all have what Dad used to call the family devil.  So far as I know you are the only person on record that can manage him.”

And Larry smiled rather shame-facedly at his uncle.

“I am afraid you will all three have to learn to manage your own particular familiar.  Devils are rather personal property, Larry.”

“Don’t I know it?  I got into mighty close range with mine last night, and just now for that matter.  Anyway I am not prepared to do any preaching at anybody at present; but I would be awfully grateful to you if you will speak to Tony.  Somebody has to.  And you can do it a million times better than anyone else.”

“Very well.  I will see what I can do.”  And thus quietly Doctor Holiday accepted another burden on his broad shoulders.

The next day he found Tony on the porch reading one of the long letters which came to her so frequently in the now familiar, dashing script.

“Got a minute for me, niece o’ mine?” he asked.

Tony slid Alan’s letter back into its envelope and smiled up at her uncle.

“Dozens of them, nice uncle,” she answered.

“It is getting well along in the summer and high time we decided a few things.  Do you still want to go in for the stage business in the fall?”

“I want to very much, Uncle Phil, if you think it isn’t too much like deserting Granny and the rest of you.”

“No, you have earned it.  I want you to go.  I don’t suppose because you haven’t talked about Hempel’s offer that it means you have forgotten it?”

“Indeed, I haven’t forgotten it.  For myself I would much rather get straight on the stage if I could and learn by doing it, but you would prefer to have me go to a regular dramatic school, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes, Tony, I would.  A year of preparation isn’t a bit too much to get your bearings in before you take the grand plunge.  I want you to be very sure that the stage is what you really want.”

“I am sure of that already.  I’ve been sure for ages.  But I am perfectly willing to do the thing any way you want and I am more grateful than I can tell you that you are on my side about it.  Are you going to tell Granny?  It will about break her heart I am afraid.”  Tony’s eyes were troubled.  She did hate to hurt Granny; but on the other hand she couldn’t wait forever to begin.

She did not see the shadow that crept over her uncle’s face.  Well he knew that long before Tony was before the footlights, Granny would be where prejudices and misunderstandings were no more; but he had no wish to mar the girl’s happiness by betraying the truth just now.

“I think we are justified in indulging in a little camouflage there,” he said.  “We will tell Granny you are going to study art.  Art covers a multitude of sins,” he added with a lightness he was far from feeling.  “One thing more, my dear.  I have waited a good while to hear something about the young man who writes these voluminous letters."’ He nodded at the envelope in Tony’s lap.  “I like his writing; but I should like to know something about him,—­himself.”