Mrs. Conway stepped out on the piazza. That was the way--you gave up your life to making your children happy, to shielding them from grief and anxiety, and then they blamed you and hurt you horribly for something that was not at all your fault. She felt a moment of resentment toward her brother. Why had Anthony insisted on this silly plan? She had been too considerate of Anthony's feelings; she ought to have refused to have a governess at all. It was much wiser in this world to be stern and cruel. She decided to be stern and to begin with Miss Exeter, who entered the sitting room at this moment. She was wearing a plain cream-colored dress out of which her lovely head--all brown and rose color and gold--seemed strangely bright colored. "I suppose you're Dolly," she said in her deep warm voice, and held out an open hand. Dolly, like most young people, estimated beauty as the best of gifts. She might have been almost as much captured by Pearl's as her brother had been, except that her ego was taken up with the outrage of her being kept waiting--she, the most important person in the house, who had taken the trouble not only to order dinner on time but--what did not always happen--to be on time herself. She rose, and allowing a limp hand to pass rapidly through Miss Exeter's, she said, "Do let's go in to dinner, mother." "Yes, indeed," said her mother, coming in rapidly from the piazza. "We dine at eight, Miss Exeter. Another evening I'm sure you will be on time." This was not perhaps a very terrible beginning to a régime of sternness; but to Durland, just getting down, it appeared one of the most disgusting exhibitions of slave driving that he had ever heard. "It is entirely my fault that we are late," he said, giving his mother a steady, brave look. She answered irrelevantly, "Why, Durland, how nice you look! Are you going anywhere this evening?" "Very likely," he answered coldly. He thought to himself, "Why must she give Miss Exeter the impression that I look like a cowboy generally?" He was of course going nowhere. So, having completely alienated her two elder children--Antonia had early supper by herself--Mrs. Conway found herself obliged to direct her conversation to the interloper. She had her revenge, if she had only known it, by talking about her brother, questioning Miss Exeter about him. Had he seemed very much rushed? Did he say anything about his golf clubs? Wasn't it a delightful office? Wonderful! So cool in summer. Pearl hazarded that the harbor was very beautiful, and learned that Mr. Wood's office looked north--up the Hudson. She must be careful. Durland inquired with a friendly grin whether Uncle Anthony had frightened her to death. "Frightened me?" said Pearl, trying to gain time. "Some people are awfully afraid of him." "Naughty little boys are," said Dolly.