“I hope you are right,” Eleanor laughed again.  “Without Riley’s approval, peace in the Gorham family would be impossible.  Now tell me what you are thinking over so seriously.  I’ve been on the point of asking you ever since luncheon.”

Alice looked up quickly and smiled brightly.

“Am I serious?” she asked.  “I didn’t realize that I became thoughtful so seldom as to have it attract attention; but, since you ask, I am wondering how my business experiment is going to work out.”

“Mr. Covington is an able instructor, and I feel sure that his pupil is a proficient one.”

“Isn’t it good of him to give me so much time!  He hasn’t missed a morning since we returned.  Oh, it’s wonderful to listen to him, he knows so much about things; and it all seems simple enough after he explains it.  He is very patient with me, even though I know he thinks I’m awfully stupid.”

“He doesn’t seem to find the task irksome,” suggested Eleanor.

“That’s because he thinks so much of father,” the girl explained.  “He has told me a lot I never knew about dear daddy, and it makes me love him more than ever.  Mr. Covington says there isn’t a man in the world to-day equal to father; and, of course, I know he’s right, but it’s pleasant to hear some one else say it.”

“How do you like Mr. Covington as you become better acquainted with him?” Eleanor asked.

“Very much,” Alice replied, sincerely; “no one could help it.  Next to daddy, he’s the finest man I know.”

“Do you think you could become very close friends?”

The girl laughed merrily.  “What a funny idea!” she exclaimed.  “It takes two to become close friends, and a man in his position could never have a friendship with a girl my age—­especially when he has this opportunity to learn all my shortcomings.  I should be very proud of a friend like Mr. Covington.”

Eleanor feared to disturb matters by further questioning.  All seemed to be progressing favorably in the direction which her husband desired, and, as he said, Covington was undoubtedly able to handle the situation himself.  Mrs. Gorham had watched the “lessons” from the corner of her eye, and had seen much which had evidently escaped Alice.

“I’d like to ask you a question.”  Mrs. Gorham looked up quickly at the abruptness of the girl’s sudden remark.  “You are the only one I can go to when I don’t understand anything; but Mr. Covington told me to think it over and keep what he said entirely to myself.  He couldn’t have meant me to keep it from you, could he?”

“You are the best judge of that, dear.  Has it to do with yourself?”

“Not exactly—­it has to do with my property:  the money my mother left me, you know.”

“Why should he interest himself in that?”

“As a surprise to daddy—­to show him how rapidly I am becoming a business woman.”

“I think you had better talk it over with your father,” Eleanor said, decidedly.  “He can advise you far better than Mr. Covington.”