"No doubt it would be very bad for the girl." "Of course! That's what I mean. Wouldn't it be the best plan after all, Pauline, to leave her here with you? She could have private masters----" Mrs. Dormer-Smith shook her head. "At my expense, of course," added Augustus. "I must screw and scrape and make some sacrifices no doubt, but----" "It really won't do, Augustus. I assure you it won't do. Frederick will _not_ have it. He talked to me after luncheon. It isn't the least use." Mrs. Dormer-Smith continued plaintively to shake her head as she spoke, and to look with gentle melancholy at the fire. "H'm! Frederick is very kind. But let us discuss the thing in a friendly spirit. If I pay for her clothing and education, surely the expense of her board wouldn't ruin you and Frederick!" "No; but the butcher and the baker are the least part of the matter. It isn't as if May were the daughter of one's housekeeper or one's governess. She is a Cheffington, you know. So many things are required for a girl with her connections; and as to your paying for her masters, of course we know you wouldn't, Augustus." "Upon my soul you are civil and sisterly!" "Well, I dare say you would mean to pay, but you wouldn't. It would be sure to turn out so, don't you know? Things always have been like that with you, Augustus." "Then what the devil do you think I'm to do?" "Pray don't be violent! I really cannot bear any display of violence. You should remember that it is scarcely a week since poor mamma was taken from us." "I don't see what that has to do with it. Miranda hasn't been taken from us; that's the point." Mrs. Dormer-Smith making no answer, her brother continued, after a moment or two-- "You are fertile in objections, but you don't seem to have any plan to suggest." "Well, an idea did occur to me. I don't know whether you would like it." "Like it! Probably not. But I am used to sacrifice my inclinations." "Well, I thought that you might put May into a school in France or Germany, or somewhere, letting her give lessons in English in return for her board and so on. There are plenty of schools where they do that sort of thing. It wouldn't so much matter abroad, because people wouldn't know who she was. You might tide over a year or two in that way." Augustus got up from his chair. "My daughter a drudge in a Continental school?" he exclaimed indignantly. "If you chose a place little frequented by English, I don't think people would know." There was a short silence. Then Augustus said angrily, "I'll take the girl back with me. She must share my home, such as it is. We will neither of us trouble you or Frederick much longer. I shall start for Ostend by the morning mail to-morrow." And he dashed out of the room emitting a muffled roll of oaths, and jarring the door in a way which made Mrs. Dormer-Smith clasp her forehead with both hands, and lean back shrinkingly in her chair.