"Nonsense. It never hurts anybody to have a plain understanding of his position in the world. I don't know what foolishness you romantic young people may have filled her head with. It's just as well she should hear common sense from me and I intend that she shall." "I've explained to you, mother, that this child is my legal and moral responsibility and will be partly at least under my care until she becomes of age. I want her to be treated as you'd treat a child of mine if I had one. If you don't, I can't have her visit us again. I shall take her away with me somewhere. Bringing her home to you this time is only an experiment." "She'll have a much more healthful and normal experience with us than she's had with any of the rest of your violent young set, I'll be bound. She'll probably be useful, too. She can look out for Zaidee--I never say that name without irritation--but it's the only name the little beast will answer to. Do you like dogs, child?" Eleanor started at the suddenness of the question, but did not reply to it. Mrs. Bolling waited and David looked at her expectantly. "My mother asked you if you liked dogs, Eleanor; didn't you understand?" Eleanor opened her lips as if to speak and then shut them again firmly. "Your protegee is slightly deaf, David," his mother assured him. "You can tell her 'yes,'" Eleanor said unexpectedly to David. "I like dogs, if they ain't treacherous." "She asked you the question," David said gravely; "this is her house, you know. It is she who deserves consideration in it." "Why can't I talk to you about her, the way she does about me?" Eleanor demanded. "She can have consideration if she wants it, but she doesn't think I'm any account. Let her ask you what she wants and I'll tell you." "Eleanor," David remonstrated, "Eleanor, you never behaved like this before. I don't know what's got into her, mother." "She merely hasn't any manners. Why should she have?" Eleanor fixed her big blue eyes on the lorgnette again. "If it's manners to talk the way you do to your own children and strange little girls, why, then I don't want any," she said. "I guess I'll be going," she added abruptly and turned toward the door. David took her by the shoulders and brought her right about face. "Say good-by to mother," he said sternly. "Good-by, ma'am--madam," Eleanor said and courtesied primly. "Tell Mademoiselle to teach her a few things before the next audience, David, and come back to me in fifteen minutes. I have something important to talk over with you."