Chapter 8 - Page 2

forward his chair, and ran to fetch his
slippers.

"You are looking a little pale, dear," he remarked.

"Oh, no, papa, I am very well."

"All well with Harold?"

"Yes. His partner, Mr. Pearson, is still away, and
he is doing all the work."

"Well done. He is sure to succeed. Where is Ida?"

"In her room, I think."

"She was with Charles Westmacott on the lawn not very
long ago. He seems very fond of her. He is not very
bright, but I think he will make her a good husband."

"I am sure of it, papa. He is very manly and
reliable."

"Yes, I should think that he is not the sort of man
who goes wrong. There is nothing hidden about him. As
to his brightness, it really does not matter, for his
aunt, Mrs. Westmacott, is very rich, much richer than you
would think from her style of living, and she has made
him a handsome provision."

"I am glad of that."

"It is between ourselves. I am her trustee, and so
I know something of her arrangements. And when are you
going to marry, Clara?"

"Oh, papa, not for some time yet. We have not
thought of a date.

"Well, really, I don't know that there is any reason
for delay. He has a competence and it increases yearly.
As long as you are quite certain that your mind is made
up----"

"Oh, papa!"

"Well, then, I really do not know why there should be
any delay. And Ida, too, must be married within the next
few months. Now, what I want to know is what I am to do
when my two little companions run away from me." He
spoke lightly, but his eyes were grave as he looked
questioningly at his daughter.

"Dear papa, you shall not be alone. It will be years
before Harold and I think of marrying, and when we do you
must come and live with us."

"No, no, dear. I know that you mean what you
say, but I have seen something of the world, and I know
that such arrangements never answer. There cannot be two
masters in a house, and yet at my age my freedom is very
necessary to me."

"But you would be completely free."

"No, dear, you cannot be that if you are a guest in
another man's house. Can you suggest no other
alternative?"

"That we remain with you."

"No, no. That is out of the question. Mrs.
Westmacott herself says that a woman's first duty is to
marry. Marriage, however, should be an equal
partnership, as she points out. I should wish you both
to marry, but still I should like a suggestion from you,
Clara, as to what I should do."

"But there is no hurry, papa. Let us wait. I do not
intend to marry yet."

Doctor Walker looked disappointed. "Well, Clara, if
you can suggest nothing, I suppose