"By no means," affirmed Vauquelin, clutching at the excuse. "Precisely. I wish her to marry monsieur Daudenarde. And that is a sound and laudable reason why I should resent being badgered by Brigard. I find such intrusions on my routine very offensive. Daudenarde's mother and I are going to have a little talk together some time or other." "But----" "What?" "You decided to have a little talk with her nine or ten months ago." "I must avoid precipitance. In such matters a father cannot act with too much caution." "Blanche is a darling. But there are other girls in Paris. If you desire the match, be careful you don't let him slip." "Have no misgiving," said Vauquelin irritably. "I am quite content. Madame Daudenarde will receive a visit from me--when Blanche is older. And we shall see what we shall see." The captivating Georgette looked thoughtful. The more so after a chat with Blanche had drawn forth the nervous confession that she "thought monsieur Daudenarde very nice." And then, when the volatile father had banished the menace of the future from his mind, and was again basking in the sunshine of the present, what should happen but that madame Daudenarde inconsiderately broached the matter to him, instead of waiting for him to approach her. "Dear lady, my daughter is too young," replied Vauquelin promptly. "How, too young?" demurred madame Daudenarde. "She is one-and-twenty. I was but nineteen when I married." "Yes," said Vauquelin, "but my sainted mother did not marry till she was thirty-two, and she always impressed upon me that it was the best age." "Thirty-two?" cried madame Daudenarde shrilly. "Do you ask me to adjourn our conference for eleven years?" "My honoured friend, I do not make it a hard-and-fast condition," stammered the unhappy man, struggling for coherence. "It is possible there may be something to be said against it. But your gratifying proposal is so sudden--I had not contemplated the alliance--I need time to balance my parental duties against my reverence for my mother's views." Now, Georgette, who could put two and two together as accurately as the Minister of Finance, had not failed to remark that the interview took place privately in the study, and noted that her host was evasive when Blanche inquired why madame Daudenarde had "called at such a funny time." Feelers during the next music-lesson found him evasive also. In the days that followed, when Blanche developed a tendency to sigh plaintively, and turned against chocolates, it grew clear to Georgette that this father must be shown the error of his ways. "May I say that I hope that conversation with madame Daudenarde contented you?" she ventured. "Hein?" said Vauquelin, starting. "That the engagement will soon be announced?" "Mon Dieu, is it not extraordinary how people seek to rob me of my child?" he moaned. "Does that mean that nothing is arranged yet?"