"Oh, you old-fashioned person! If a strong will is a good thing why should we not share it? A weak woman very often makes a bad man! Don't try to eradicate the strength in Mysie's character." "I don't agree with you. The weakness in woman awakens all the chivalry in man's nature. These strong-minded females are abhorrent to me. One of these would-be teachers of my child asked me if I did not believe in the emancipation of the female sex—now what did she mean by that? Mere clap-trap or real immorality!" Then he checked himself. "We won't discuss these questions. You and I always slipped into an argument, didn't we, in the old days? I shall be deeply grateful if you can help me. Mysie is to me now a cherished possession and I always consider I have to thank you for bringing me to my senses about her. Now before I go, we propose paying a visit to the Zoo to-morrow afternoon. Could you come with us?" "I am afraid not," said Rowena regretfully. "It is Mrs. Burke's 'At Home' day to-morrow, and I must be here to help her." "Mysie will be bitterly disappointed. Where do you go on Sunday?" Rowena mentioned a certain Church not very far off. "Canon Villars is a most earnest preacher," she said. "Have you ever heard him?" "No, I'll bring Mysie round there!" He got up to go. "I must not transgress again; but if only you were with one of these philanthropic useful women of the day, how much happier you would be." "You don't know Mrs. Burke," Rowena said gravely. "You only judge by outer appearances." He looked at her with a flicker of a smile in his eyes. "A tree is known by its fruits." "Good-bye," said Rowena very sweetly. "I will let you have the last word, though it is a woman's prerogative." At lunch, she told Mrs. Burke about the General's visit, and to her surprise that lady became quite enthusiastic. "We'll send for Marion at once. I'll pay her fare! She can easily leave those young people for a day or two. It is too great a chance for her to miss. I should like to help her, poor thing, and that handsome General Macdonald must be a nice man to deal with. Let us ask him to dinner; we must get her here first. Nothing like striking whilst the iron is hot. Write directly after lunch, will you, and you had better enclose a cheque for travelling expenses. Don't you think you had better wire?" "No," said Rowena, laughing, "the poor creature would be thoroughly mystified. You would like it all settled up by this time to-morrow now, wouldn't you?" "You know how I hate to let the grass grow under my feet." Rowena wrote the letter. She had been much impressed by Marion's personality and capability, and felt sure that if she agreed to go to Abertarlie, she would not be a failure there. "And oh," she thought with a little grimace of disgust at her own longing for the Highlands, "why did he not offer me the job, instead of wishing to relegate me to these useful philanthropical ladies of his acquaintance!" CHAPTER V