he began to imitate: "Don't you try to put me in the light
of a boor!" "I shall take pleasure in calling at some time when a more
courteous sort of people--" He was unable to go on.

There is a mirth for every age, and Lucy failed to comprehend her
father's, but tolerated it a little ruefully.

"Papa, I think they were shocking. Weren't they awful!"

"Just--just boys!" he moaned, wiping his eyes. But Lucy could not smile
at all; she was beginning to look indignant. "I can forgive that poor
Fred Kinney," she said. "He's just blundering--but George--oh, George
behaved outrageously!"

"It's a difficult age," her father observed, his calmness somewhat
restored. "Girls don't seem to have to pass through it quite as boys do,
or their savoir faire is instinctive--or something!" And he gave away to
a return of his convulsion.

She came and sat upon the arm of his chair. "Papa, why should George
behave like that?"

"He's sensitive."

"Rather! But why is he? He does anything he likes to, without any regard
for what people think. Then why should he mind so furiously when
the least little thing reflects upon him, or on anything or anybody
connected with him?"

Eugene patted her hand. "That's one of the greatest puzzles of human
vanity, dear; and I don't pretend to know the answer. In all my life,
the most arrogant people that I've known have been the most sensitive.
The people who have done the most in contempt of other people's opinion,
and who consider themselves the highest above it, have been the most
furious if it went against them. Arrogant and domineering people can't
stand the least, lightest, faintest breath of criticism. It just kills
them."

"Papa, do you think George is arrogant and domineering?"

"Oh, he's still only a boy," said Eugene consolingly. "There's plenty
of fine stuff in him--can't help but be, because he's Isabel Amberson's
son."

Lucy stroked his hair, which was still almost as dark as her own. "You
liked her pretty well once, I guess, papa."

"I do still," he said quietly.

"She's lovely--lovely! Papa--" she paused, then continued--"I wonder
sometimes--"

"What?"

"I wonder just how she happened to marry Mr. Minafer."

"Oh, Minafer's all right," said Eugene. "He's a quiet sort of man, but
he's a good man and a kind man. He always was, and those things count."

"But in a way--well, I've heard people say there wasn't anything to him
at all except business and saving money. Miss Fanny