"That remains to be seen, Miss Worldly Wisemiss," he retorted with unconvincing lightness. He was disturbed, and he was impressed, by her indifference to the fortune. It appeared not to concern or to interest her. She spoke not merely as one who objected to unearned wealth but as one to whom the annals of the Prohack family were henceforth a matter of minor importance. It was very strange, and Mr. Prohack had to fight against a feeling of intimidation. The girl whom he had cherished for over twenty years and whom he thought he knew to the core, was absolutely astounding him by the revelation of her individuality. He didn't know her. He was not her father. He was helpless before her. "How are things here?" he demanded, amiably inquisitive, as an acquaintance. "Excellent," said she. "Jolly hard work, though." "Yes, I should imagine so. Teaching men dancing! By Jove!" "There's not so much difficulty about teaching men. The difficulty's with the women. Father, they're awful. You can't imagine their stupidity." Lizzie glanced into the room. She simply glanced, and Sissie returned the glance. "You'll have to excuse me a bit, father," said Sissie. "I'll come back as quick as I can. Don't go." She departed hurriedly. "I'd better get out of this anyhow," thought Mr. Prohack, surveying the ladies' cloakroom. "If one of 'em came in I should have to explain my unexplainable presence in this sacred grot." * * * * * III Having received no suggestion from his daughter as to how he should dispose of himself while awaiting her leisure, Mr. Prohack made his way back to the guardian's cubicle. And there he discovered a chubby and intentionally-young man in the act of gazing through the small window into the studio exactly as he himself had been gazing a few minutes earlier. "Hel_lo_, Prohack!" exclaimed the chubby and intentionally-young man, with the utmost geniality and calmness.