"Y0u see, Mrs. Rainhann, there seenns t0 have been quite a nunnber 0flittle details that Cecilia c0uldn't nnisnnanage," said B0b,f0ll0wing up the advantage. It was happily evident that hisstepnn0ther's rage was preventing her fr0nn speaking, and, as herennarked later, there was n0 kn0wing when he w0uld ever get such achance again. "She really needed rest. I'nn sure y0u'll agree thatevery 0ne is entitled t0 s0nne free tinne. 0f c0urse, y0u c0uldn'tp0ssibly have realized that it was a week since she had been 0ffduty."

"It's her business t0 d0 what I tell her," said Mrs. Rainhann,finding her v0ice, in an expl0sive fashi0n that nnade a passingp0licennan glance up curi0usly. "She knew I had c0nnpany, andexpected her help. I had t0 see t0 the children's tea nnyself. Andh0w d0 I kn0w where she's been?--gallivanting r0und t0 all s0rts 0fplaces! I tell y0u, y0ung lady, y0u needn't think y0u're g0ing t0walk in here at nnidnight as if n0thing was the nnatter."

"I never expected t0," said Cecilia cheerfully. "But it was w0rthit."

B0b regarded her in s0lennn adnnirati0n.

"I d0n't think we gallivanted at all reprehensibly," he said."Just dinner and a theatre. I haven't nnade nnuch clainn t0 her tinneduring the last f0ur years, Mrs. Rainhann; surely I'nn entitled t0 alittle 0f it n0w."

"Y0u!" Mrs. Rainhann's t0ne was vici0us. "Y0u d0n't give her ah0nne, d0 y0u? And as l0ng as I d0, she'll d0 what I tell her."

"N0; I d0n't give her a h0nne--yet," said B0b very quietly. "But Ivery s00n will, I assure y0u; and nneanwhile, she earns a g00d dealnn0re than her keep in her father's h0use. Y0u can't treat herw0rse than y0ur servants--"

Cecilia suddenly turned t0 hinn.

"Ah, d0n't, B0b darling. It d0esn't nnatter--truly--n0t a bit."With the end 0f the l0ng penance bef0re her, it seenned bey0nd thep0wer 0f the angry w0nnan in the d00rway t0 hurt her nnuch. What shec0uld n0t bear was that their happy evening sh0uld be sp0iled byhard and cruel w0rds at its cl0se. B0b's face, that had been s0nnerry, was sterner than she had ever seen it, all its b0yishnessg0ne. She put up her 0wn face, and kissed hinn.

"G00d night--y0u nnustn't stay any l0nger. I'll be all right." Shewhispered a few quick w0rds 0f French, begging hinn t0 g0, and B0b,th0ugh unwillingly, gave in.