"
"William!"
"Well, where shall she go? Will you take her?"
"I? Certainly not," declared Kate, with decision. "I'm sure I see no
reason why I should."
"No more do I see why William should, either," cut in Cyril.
"Oh, come, what's the use," interposed Bertram. "Let her stay. She's a
nice little thing, I'm sure."
Cyril and Kate turned sharply.
"Bertram!" The cry was a duet of angry amazement. Then Kate added: "It
seems that you, too, have come under the sway of dark eyes, pink cheeks,
and an unknown quantity of curly hair!"
Bertram laughed.
"Oh, well, she would be nice to--er--paint," he murmured.
"See here, children," demurred William, a little sternly, "all this is
wasting time. There is no way out of it. I wouldn't be seen turning that
homeless child away now. We must keep her; that's settled. The question
is, how shall it be done? We must have some woman friend here to be her
companion, of course; but whom shall we get?"
Kate sighed, and looked her dismay. Bertram threw a glance into Cyril's
eyes, and made an expressive gesture.
"You see," it seemed to say. "I told you how it would be!"
"Now whom shall we get?" questioned William again. "We must think."
Unattached gentlewomen of suitable age and desirable temper did not
prove to be so numerous among the Henshaws' acquaintances, however, as
to make the selection of a chaperon very easy.
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