'Not at all. I judge by results. The girl has fallen so completely under her thraldom that she has come to regard her almost in the light of a mother. It speaks well for her heart, but ill for your judgment. I can quite understand the power over her gained by a woman who attended her in her childish ailments, who dressed her dolls, and put her hair in curlpapers. But although we must admire the quality of Winefred's heart in clinging to this individual, one can do no other than lament that the attachment has been so close between persons so different in rank. Contact, and that so intimate, with one of an inferior quality has had a deteriorating effect. It has imparted a rustical flavour to the speech, mind, and manner of your child. Young characters are given shape and bias at an early age, and from their associates. Pardon my asking such a question, but have you married again?' 'No.' Mr. Holwood put his eyeglass to his lips, breathed on it, then produced a silk kerchief and wiped it. He did not notice, in his nervous distress, how steadily and searchingly the eye of Sylvana was fixed upon him. 'I can give you an illustration of the manner in which that female has gained power over the girl. Winefred will not allow the most trifling remark to be made in disparagement of her. She has even taken me to task, and has threatened to leave should I let slip a word to her disadvantage.' 'Ah! yes.' 'When she refers to that individual, she has spoken of her on more than one occasion as her mother. This is reprehensible, and a practice that must be abandoned.' 'Oh! yes――yes!' 'This, doubtless, commends itself to you in the same light as to me.' 'Oh! certainly.' Drops stood on his brow and lip. He employed the kerchief to wipe his face. Then, with a quiver in his voice, 'Perhaps you would not mind speaking to her on the matter.' 'I have spoken; it is, excuse my plain speech, your duty to back me up. I see clearly that if she be allowed to fall under the influence of this female, it will undo all the advantage she has derived from a residence in my house. If you will pardon the liberty I take, I would advise you to dismiss this personage, to send her to her friends――with a pension perhaps.' 'She has a liberal allowance.' 'Quite so, but let her live on this allowance at a distance, and on the understanding that it will be withdrawn should she attempt to renew her relations with Winefred.' 'I――think――I am sure, I cannot do this.' 'Then suffer me to take the negotiation out of your hands; it will doubtless come better from me. Empower me to write and place the matter before her in a clear light, inform her that she must never see Winefred again. It will be solely by dissociating your child from vulgar persons that the little peculiarities in her dialect and the provincial mannerism, I note, can be effaced. You agree with me?' 'I――I――――' 'You see the necessity.' 'Yes, oh, assuredly!'