She lifted cajoling eyes. "But I want to. Oh, _I_ know! I can go to school in Paris." Her little air of having settled the matter left him smiling but serious. "France has mouths enough to feed without one extra school-girl's, chicken." "I don't eat much. Are you afraid of submarines?" "For you, yes." "I'm not. Daddies dear, _mayn't_ I go? I'd love to be near you." "Positively, my love, you may not." She drew down the corners of her mouth and went through a bewitching imitation of wiping tears out of her eyes. But she wasn't really disappointed. She had been fairly certain in advance of what the verdict would be. There had been a bare chance, of something different--that was all, and it didn't pay to let chances, even the barest, go by default. So she crumbled her warbread and remarked thoughtfully, "I suppose I can stay at home, but it won't be very exciting." Her father seemed to find his next words hard to say. "I had a notion we might close the house. It is rather expensive to keep up; not much point in doing so just for one, is there? In going to France I shall give my services." "Of course. But the house--" The delicate brows lifted. "What were you thinking of doing with me?" "Dumping you on the corner. What else?" The two laughed together as at a good joke. But there was a tightening in the man's throat. He wondered how soon, after next week, he would again be sitting at table opposite that vivacious young face. "Seriously, Lot, I met Bob in Washington. He was there on conservation business. When he heard what I was contemplating, he asked you up to Highboro. Said Jessica and he would be delighted to have you visit them for a year. They're generous souls. It struck me as a good plan. Your uncle is a fine man, and I have always admired his wife. I've never seen as much of her as I'd have liked. What do you say to the idea?" "Um-m-m." Elliott did not commit herself. "Uncle Bob and Aunt Jessica are very nice, but I don't know them." "House full of boys and girls. You won't be lonely." The piquant nose wrinkled mischievously. "That would never do. I like my own way too well." He laughed. "And you generally manage to get it by hook or by crook!" "I? You malign me. You _give_ it to me because you like me." How adorably pretty she looked! He laughed again. "You've got your old dad there, all right. Yes, yes, you've got him there!" "Didn't I tell you just now that you mustn't call my father old?" "So you did! So you did! Well, well, the truth will out now and then, you know. _Could_ you inveigle Jane into giving us more butter?--By the way, here's a letter from Jessica. I found it in the stack on my desk to-night. Better read it before you say no." "Oh, I will," Elliott received the letter without enthusiasm. "Very good of her, I'm sure. I'll write and thank her to-morrow; but I think I'll go to Aunt Nell's."