r; but Butler jumped up now and stopped
her. His face for the moment was flushed and swollen with anger.

"But I'm not through with him yet," he went on, ignoring her desire to
leave, and addressing her direct--confident now that she was as capable
as another of understanding him. "I'll get him as sure as I have a name.
There's law in this land, and I'll have it on him. I'll show him whether
he'll come sneakin' into dacent homes and robbin' parents of their
children."

He paused after a time for want of breath and Aileen stared, her face
tense and white. Her father could be so ridiculous. He was, contrasted
with Cowperwood and his views, so old-fashioned. To think he could be
talking of some one coming into their home and stealing her away from
him, when she had been so willing to go. What silliness! And yet, why
argue? What good could be accomplished, arguing with him here in this
way? And so for the moment, she said nothing more--merely looked. But
Butler was by no means done. His mood was too stormy even though he was
doing his best now to subdue himself.

"It's too bad, daughter," he resumed quietly, once he was satisfied that
she was going to have little, if anything, to say. "I'm lettin' my anger
get the best of me. It wasn't that I intended talkin' to ye about when
I ast ye to come in. It's somethin' else I have on me mind. I was
thinkin', perhaps, ye'd like to go to Europe for the time bein' to study
music. Ye're not quite yourself just at present. Ye're needin' a rest.
It would be good for ye to go away for a while. Ye could have a nice
time over there. Norah could go along with ye, if you would, and
Sister Constantia that taught you. Ye wouldn't object to havin' her, I
suppose?"

At the mention of this idea of a trip of Europe again, with Sister
Constantia and music thrown in to give it a slightly new form, Aileen
bridled, and yet half-smiled to herself now. It was so ridiculous--so
tactless, really, for her father to bring up this now, and especially
after denouncing Cowperwood and her, and threatening all the things he
had. Had he no diplomacy at all where she was concerned? It was really
too funny! But she restrained herself here again, because she felt as
well as saw, that argument of this kind was all futile now.

"I wish you wouldn't talk about that, father," she began, having
softened under his explanation. "I don't want to go to Europe now. I
don't want to leave Philadelphia. I know you want me to