Mr. Prohack blenched guiltily.

“Er—­er—­what was I going to say?  Oh, yes,—­where’s this Eliza of yours got her hundred pounds from?”

“I don’t know.  It’s no business of mine.”

“But do you insist—­shall you—­insist on introductions from your pupils?”

“Father, how you do chop about!  No, naturally we shan’t insist on introductions.”

“Then any man can come for lessons?”

“Certainly.  Provided he wears evening-dress on gala nights, and pays the fees and behaves properly.  Viola says some of them prefer afternoon lessons because they haven’t got any evening-dress.”

“If I were you I shouldn’t rush at it,” said Mr. Prohack.

“But we must rush at it—­or lose it.  And I’ve no intention of losing it.  Viola has to make her arrangements at once.”

“I wonder what your mother will say when you ask her.”

“I shan’t ask her.  I shall tell her.  Nobody can decide this thing for me.  I have to decide it for myself, and I’ve decided it.  As for what mother says—­” Sissie frowned and then smiled, “that’s your affair.”

“My affair!” Mr. Prohack exclaimed in real alarm.  “What on earth do you mean?”

“Well, you and she are so thick together.  You’re got to live with her.  I haven’t got to live with her.”

“I ask you, what on earth do you mean?”

“But surely you’ve understood, father, that I shall have to live at the studio.  Somebody has to be on the spot, and there are two bedrooms.  But of course you’ll be able to put all that right with mother, dad.  You’ll do it for your own sake; but a bit for mine, too.”  She giggled nervously, ran round the table and kissed her parent.  “I’m frightfully obliged for the fifty pounds,” she said.  “You and the mater will be fearfully happy together soon if Charlie doesn’t come back.  Ta-ta!  I must be off now.”

“Where?”

“To Eliza’s of course.  We shall probably go straight down to Putney together and see Viola and fix everything up.  I know Viola’s had at least one other good offer.  I may sleep at the studio.  If not, at Eliza’s.  Anyhow it will be too late for me to come back here.”

“I absolutely forbid you to go off like this.”

“Yes, do, father.  You forbid for all you’re worth if it gives you any pleasure.  But it won’t be much use unless you can carry me upstairs and lock me in my room.  Oh!  Father, you are a great pretender.  You know perfectly well you’re delighted with me.”

“Indeed I’m not!  I suppose you’ll have the decency to see your mother before you go?”

“What!  And wake her!  You said she wasn’t to be disturbed ’on any account.’”

“I deny that I said ‘on any account.’”

“I shouldn’t dream of disturbing her.  And you’ll tell her so much better than I could.  You can do what you like with her.”

IV