Rose-Ann’s father turned around to face him. “I’m an old man,” he said apologetically, “and a priest. You can’t expect me to take things like that as seriously as you young folks do. I hear about the sins of the flesh too often to be very much impressed with them.” “I just thought you ought to know,” murmured Felix. “Well, now, to get to the point,” said Mr. Prentiss, “what are you going to do about it?” “I don’t know,” said Felix. “I’m trying to consider Rose-Ann’s happiness.... She seems to be able to get along without me....” “Seems to be? seems to be? You don’t seem so certain of it yourself?” “If she can be happy with some one else, why should I interfere?” Felix muttered. “Who is this some one else?” asked Rose-Ann’s father, taking up his march across the room. “Some one in California?” “Yes, a poet.... I’ve my own little system of espionage, too. I got very chummy with the art editor of the Motion Picture World before he left, and he writes me all the gossip.... Besides I’ve Rose-Ann’s description of him in her last letter to me—we’re still friends, you know. ‘Tall, awkward, black-haired, blazing black-eyed’—sounds quite romantic.” “Another one of her young geniuses,” said Rose-Ann’s father with a sigh. “Another?” “Yes.... She’s always had an eye for young genius. Queer-looking specimens usually ... you should have seen the one she brought home from Chicago once. Name was—Dick, Dick something. A poet. Never heard what became of him, but I imagine that he died of drugs.” “Was she in love with him?” “It’s hard to say. I don’t know whether she’s ever been in love.” “What!” Rose-Ann’s father came to a halt again. “Oh, yes, she married you; but she ran away from you.... And the nearest I can come to telling you why, is that I suspect she ran away because she was afraid she _would_ love you.... If that sounds foolish, just put it down to the maunderings of an old man.” “It doesn’t sound foolish to me,” said Felix. “It sounds—true.” “Well, then, I’ll tell you something else. I imagine she’s nearer to being in love with you _now_ than she was when she married you! What do you think of that?” “Perhaps it’s only because it’s what I wish to believe,” said Felix, “but it sounds like gospel.” “There’s such a thing as being afraid of falling in love,” mused Rose-Ann’s father. “I think she married you because she thought she would be safe from that danger—I know it doesn’t sound very complimentary to you, but maybe you know what I mean—and she ran away from you because she found out she was mistaken.” “I know,” said Felix, “she’s always been afraid of love.... So have I, for that matter.” “That’s why she chose you.” “Yes.” “Well, there you are. I’m afraid this doesn’t help the situation any.” Mr. Prentiss moved away, puffing his cigar. “So you think it’s no use?” “The question is,” said Rose-Ann’s father, “can you tame her?”