"She wants to open a school up at Sunnybank, papa. _Do_ let us go!" cried the girl, eagerly. His face wore a mask of extreme concern. "It cannot be! the righteous Fates can never be so oblivious to unparalleled excellence as to ordain that you--the solitary scion of an aristocratic race, shall be reduced by unpropitious vicissitudes, to the necessity of maintaining yourself by the arduous employment of imparting instruction to the juvenile mind!" "A friend is to be the instructress, sir. I shall exercise a general supervision." "What a mountain you remove! I trembled at the supposition that you were precipitated upon the frozen charities of a mercenary world. Ah, my young friend! the most shameful part of human hypocrisy is the heartless repudiation of unmerited exigency!" "May we go, papa?" persisted the daughter. "I so want to learn!" "My beloved! wariness is indispensable in the adjudication of a measure vitally affecting your intellectual progress. Is your friend versed in classical lore, Miss Ross?" This absurdity was almost a match for Ida's forbearance. "Her recommendations cannot be impeached, Mr. Pinely," she said, spiritedly. "I solicit no further assurance, Miss Ross, than your approbation of her qualifications. You have my paternal sanction, my daughter. Moderate your transports, my love!" She had clapped her hands. "Pray assign her extravaganzas to the intensity of her admiration of your lovesome self, Miss Ross. I blush at the trivialness of the reference--but my income is not what it was, when your father and myself were twin-souls. The remorseless falchion of Time cleaves down rank and fortune in his flight. The remuneration,--Miss Ross! If the scanty pecuniary assistance I can render your fair friend will ameliorate her hardships, my 'bosom's lord will sit lightly on its throne!'" Ida curtly told him, "no tuition fees were demanded." "That materially alters the aspect of your proposition. My munificent lady! this is a flagrant spoliation of yourself!" "I do not consider it as such, sir." "Your enthusiastic philanthropy misleads you. _I_ cannot be an accomplice to this generous fraud. My children remain in their own habitation unless your friend accepts compensation for her toils." Laura looked ashamed and sorrowful, and Ida restrained her indignant contempt. "We will not differ about a trifle, Mr. Pinely. The terms and time of payment are subject to your discretion and convenience. I may enter your little ones--Laura included? There are three, besides yourself, Laura?" "They are docile to the flower-wreathed wand of moral suasion, Miss Ross, but may betray obduration if sterner means are employed. Of corporeal punishment we will not speak; the rod would fall barbless, from the lily digits of gentle woman." "You will come to school, Monday week;" Ida was saying to Laura: "but do not wait until then to pay me a visit. I must have a long talk with you. Good bye."