‘No, no. She must run away and not bully her mamma,’ I said. ‘When she comes back we will see how much she remembers of the sermon;’ and as the flat tinkle from the companion began to show signs of diminishing, Cecily, with one grieved glance, hastened down. ‘You amazing lady!’ said Dacres. ‘A daughter--and such a tall daughter! I somehow never--’ ‘You knew we had one?’ ‘There was theory of that kind, I remember, about ten years ago. Since then--excuse me--I don’t think you’ve mentioned her.’ ‘You talk as if she were a skeleton in the closet!’ ‘You DIDN’T talk--as if she were.’ ‘I think she was, in a way, poor child. But the resurrection day hasn’t confounded me as I deserved. She’s a very good girl.’ ‘If you had asked me to pick out your daughter--’ ‘She would have been the last you would indicate! Quite so,’ I said. ‘She is like her father’s people. I can’t help that.’ ‘I shouldn’t think you would if you could,’ Dacres remarked absently; but the sea air, perhaps, enabled me to digest his thoughtlessness with a smile. ‘No,’ I said, ‘I am just as well pleased. I think a resemblance to me would confuse me, often.’ There was a trace of scrutiny in Dacres’s glance. ‘Don’t you find yourself in sympathy with her?’ he asked. ‘My dear boy, I have seen her just twice in twenty-one years! You see, I’ve always stuck to John.’ ‘But between mother and daughter--I may be old-fashioned, but I had an idea that there was an instinct that might be depended on.’ ‘I am depending on it,’ I said, and let my eyes follow the little blue waves that chased past the hand-rail. ‘We are making very good speed, aren’t we? Thirty-five knots since last night at ten. Are you in the sweep?’ ‘I never bet on the way out--can’t afford it. Am I old-fashioned?’ he insisted. ‘Probably. Men are very slow in changing their philosophy about women. I fancy their idea of the maternal relation is firmest fixed of all.’ ‘We see it a beatitude!’ he cried. ‘I know,’ I said wearily, ‘and you never modify the view.’ Dacres contemplated the portion of the deck that lay between us. His eyes were discreetly lowered, but I saw embarrassment and speculation and a hint of criticism in them. ‘Tell me more about it,’ said he.