"We more than wish to," corrected Anna-Rose, "we intend to. What were we made in God's image for if it wasn't to stand upright on our own feet?" "Anna-Rose and I had given this a good deal of thought," said Anna-Felicitas, "first and last, and we're prepared to be friends with everybody, but only as co-equals and of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting." "I don't know exactly," said Mr. Twist, "what that means, but it seems to give you a lot of satisfaction." "It does. It's out of the Athanasian Creed, and suggests such perfect equality. If you'll regard us as co-equals instead of as objects to be looked after, you'll see how happy we shall all be." "Not," said Anna-Rose, growing tender, for indeed in her heart she loved and clung to Mr. Twist, "that we haven't very much liked all you've done for us and the way you were so kind to us on the boat,--we've been _most_ obliged to you, and we shall miss you very much indeed, I know." "But we'll get over that of course in time," put in Anna-Felicitas, "and we've got to start life now in earnest." "Well then," said Mr. Twist, "will you two Annas kindly tell me what it is you propose to do next?" "Next? After tea? Go and look at the sights." "I mean to-morrow," said Mr. Twist. "To-morrow," said Anna-Rose, "we proceed to Boston." "To track the Clouston Sacks to their lair," said Anna-Felicitas. "Ah. You've made up your minds to do that. They've behaved abominably," said Mr. Twist. "Perhaps they missed the train," said Anna-Felicitas mildly. "It's the proper course to pursue," said Anna-Rose. "To proceed to Boston." "I suppose it is," said Mr. Twist, again thinking that the really proper and natural course was for him to have been able to take them to his mother. Pity one's mother wasn't-- He pulled himself up on the brink of an unfiliality. He was on the verge of thinking it a pity one's mother wasn't a different one. CHAPTER XII "Then," said Mr. Twist, "if this is all you're going to see of New York, this one evening, let us go and look at it." He beckoned to the waiter who came up with the bill. Anna-Rose pulled out her purse. Mr. Twist put up his hand with severe determination. "You're my guest," he said, "as long as I am with you. Useless to protest, young lady. You'll not get me to belie my American manhood. I only listened with half an ear to all the things you both said in the taxi, because I hadn't recovered from the surprise of finding myself still with you instead of on the train for Clark, and because you both of you do say so very many things. But understand once and for all that in this country everything female has to be paid for by some man. I'm that man till I've left you on the Sack doorstep, and then it'll be Sack--confound him," finished Mr. Twist suddenly.