“Well, I do.  I think she’s quite pretty enough to excuse, I mean, explain your having a passing fancy for her.”

“I haven’t a passing fancy for her.”

“Well, I’m much relieved to hear you say so, for even if it were only a passing fancy, I’d feel I ought to send her away.  You never can tell how such things will develop.”

“You certainly can’t.”

“And you may rest assured mother and I don’t want you to ruin your life by throwing yourself away on a penniless, unknown little governess, when you might have your choice from among the best-born, wealthiest girls in town.”

“Miss Lang is as well-born as any one we know.”

“We have only her word for it.”

“No, her nurse, an old family servant, Martha Slawson, corroborates her—­if you require corroboration.”

“Don’t you?  Would you be satisfied to pick some one off the street, as it were, and take her into your house and give her your innocent child to train?”

“My innocent children being so extremely vague, I am not concerning myself as to their education.  But I certainly accept Miss Lang’s word, and I accept Martha’s.”

“You’re easily satisfied.  Positively, Frank, I believe you have a fancy for the girl, in spite of what you say.  And for all our sakes, for mother’s and mine and yours and—­yes—­even hers, it will be best for me to tell her to go.”

“I rather like the way you rank us.  Mother and you first—­then I come, and last—­even the poor little girl!”

“Well, you may laugh if you want to, but when a child like Radcliffe notices that you’re not indifferent to her, there must be some truth in it.  He confided to me last night, ’Uncle Frank likes Miss Lang a lot.  I guess she’s his best girl!  Isn’t she his best girl?’ I told him certainly not.  But I lay awake most of the night, worrying about it.”

Mr. Ronald had evidently had enough of the interview.  Claire could hear his firm steps, as he strode across the floor to the door.

“I advise you to quit worrying, Catherine,” he said.  “It doesn’t pay.  Moreover, I assure you I’ve no passing fancy (I quote your words) for Miss Lang.  I hope you won’t be so foolish as to dismiss her on my account.  She’s an excellent teacher, a good disciplinarian.  It would be difficult to find another as capable as she, one who, at the same time, would put up with Radcliffe’s waywardness, and your—­our—­(I’ll put it picturesquely, after the manner of Martha) our indiosincrazies.  Take my advice.  Don’t part with Miss Lang.  She’s the right person in the right place.  Good-morning!”

“Frank, Frank!  Don’t leave me like that.  I know I’ve terribly annoyed you.  I can’t bear to feel you’re provoked with me, and yet I’m only acting for your good.  Please kiss me good-by.  I’m going away.  I won’t see you for two whole days.  I’m going to Tuxedo this morning to stay over night with Amy Pelham.  There’s a man she’s terribly interested in, and she wants me to meet him, and tell her what I think of him.  He’s been attentive to her for ever so long, and yet he doesn’t—­his name is Mr. Robert—­” Her words frayed off in the distance, as she hurriedly followed her brother out into the hall and downstairs.