Edith was now more flushed. She burned with confusion and despair over Star's untimely statement of facts. "If you ladies will excuse me, I will resume my work," said John, to avoid further complications between Edith's expressive face and Star's expressive words. "We will excuse you, Mr. Winthrope--business before pleasure, always," said Edith. "I am glad to meet you--to have met you--and hope to see you again, Miss Barton," said John, bowing to Star; and then, bowing to Edith, he departed. In the meantime, Mr. Jarney had taken his seat at his desk in a highly flustered state of mind by reason of his daughter's sudden change of countenance over the unintentional reflect assertion of Star's. When John had closed the door of his office behind him, and the two ladies were alone with Mr. Jarney, the latter turned about in his chair, as if in a passion of rage, and said: "My dear Edith, what is the meaning of your actions?" "Why, papa, dear," she answered, "it is only my way of showing my appreciation of his former kindness." "My little chit," he returned, as she put one arm around his neck, "you exhibited more than simple appreciation in your looks, when you greeted Mr. Winthrope." "Now, do not scold me, dear papa; if you do, I will cry," said Edith, fumbling for a handkerchief somewhere about her garments, with which to stay the flow of tears already glistening in her eyes. "Ha, ha, Edith," replied her father; "I am not chiding you; I know my little girl would do nothing unbecoming." "Papa, is it unbecoming to be civil to a young man like him?" she asked. "Not in the least, my child; he is a fine young man--" and Edith hugged her father more closely--"and--ah, Edith, you make me wonder, sometimes, at your way of looking at other young men of our class." "None of them is as good as he, I know," she said, with such sincerity, and so pensively, that her father was really disturbed. "I know he is a good young man; but, Edith, it would be very naughty for you to encourage him," he said advisedly. "Then, you do not like him, papa? I know you do not. Wish I had never requested you to advance him to this place, then--then--I would not have seen him again." "Why, Edith, my child! what are you saying? If you persist in your talking that way, it will be necessary for me to dismiss him at once, and have no more of this benefactor business on my hands," replied her father, sternly; at the same time winking at Star, belying the asperity of his voice. "Now, papa, you do not mean that," she responded, patting him on the head. "I know you too well, you bad dear papa. If I thought you did, it would make me feel very cross toward you. There--now--papa--do not--say--any more." She concluded the last phrase with kisses between the words. "My dear, we will drop the matter," he said. "I mean to keep him, Edith; for I like him; really I do. Miss Barton what is your opinion?" "The same as Edith's," she answered.