The agent said that he understood, and the Senator continued: "The editor of that mongrel sheet, the _Times_, would twist this thing out of all shape, Sir. He would fight the house to injure me, and he'd jump on me to hurt the house. Mr. Belford here will be the manager, and I guess he knows all about it." I was forced to tell him that I was not a business man, that I could secure the attractions, but that he must see that the books were kept properly. "That's all right," he said. "I can't do it myself, but I'll take them home and turn them over to my daughter. She may not know how to keep them in the regular way, but you may gamble that they'll be kept right." I agreed to this, but as we were going out the thought occurred to me that Estell might object. "Oh, that will be all right," the Senator declared when I spoke of it. "He may not be taken with the idea, but it will give Florence a practical thing to think about, and he can see that it will be good for her." "But if it's just the same to you, Senator, I'd rather you wouldn't speak to him about it when I'm present. Even the slightest objection on his part would be embarrassing to me." "You are right, Belford, and I appreciate your sensitiveness. Yes, Sir, you are right. But he won't object." As we drew near to the house we saw Estell standing under a walnut tree. "Go on in," said the Senator, "and I will have a talk with him. It's a matter of no importance, you understand. We can hire a man to keep the books. But I'll speak to him." I passed on into the library. The dog, that had presumed to disobey the mistress of the house, lay stretched upon the floor, and as I entered he looked up contemptuously, and then to all appearances resumed his nap. Presently Mrs. Estell came in. "You are back early," she said. "What are you doing here?" This was spoken to the dog. He raised his head and gave her an appealing look. "They want you out there to catch a chicken to send to a sick man." The dog brightened, jumped up and trotted out, and soon a squawk and a command from a negro woman announced that he had done his work. "It is all arranged," I said. "I knew it would be," she replied. "My father gets nearly everything he goes after." "And he is now after Mr. Estell, to get his consent--" "Consent!" she broke in. "Consent about what?" "Why, the Senator thought it would be a good idea to bring the books up here and let you keep them." "I'd like that. It would give me something to think about." "That's what your father said." "Oh, and he's gone to ask Mr. Estell. He won't care. He may object at first--he objects to nearly everything at first." "I don't believe he takes to me very kindly," I ventured to remark.