old and nobody cares what she
does, but I intended to rouse this whole house and I'd have been so
compromised you'd have had to marry me. You're a gentleman if you are
a damned old left-over, and you're a friend of granny's and dad's. I'd
have had you tied up so tight you'd have toddled straight down to the
City Hall."

Clavering stared at her, wondering how women felt when they were going
to have hysterics. What a night! And this girl's resemblance to her
grandmother was uncanny. He could see the Jane Oglethorpe of the
portrait in just such a tantrum. And he had thought he knew both of
them. He wanted to burst into wild laughter, but the girl was tragic
in spite of her silly plot and he merely continued to regard her
stonily.

"How did you get in?" he asked. "That's not easy in this house."

"I just got in the lift and told the boy I was your sister just arrived
from the South and he let me in with the pass key. He took me for
sixteen and said that as you weren't one for chickens he'd chance it."

"He'll get the sack in the morning."

"I don't care what happens to him." Suddenly she burst into tears, her
face working like a baby's, and flung herself into her father's arms.

"Make him marry me, daddy. Make him! I want him. I want him."

Oglethorpe put his arms about her, but his sympathies were equally
divided, and he understood men far better than he did young girls.
"You wouldn't want to marry a man who doesn't love you," he said
soothingly. "Where's your pride?"

"Who cares a damn about pride? I want him and that's all there is to
it." She whirled round again. "Do you think you're in love with that
rejuvenated old dame who's granny's age if she's a day? She's
hypnotized you, that's what. It isn't natural. It isn't. It isn't."

"I certainly shall marry Madame Zattiany if she will have me."

"O-h-h." Tears dried. She showed her teeth like a treed cat. Her
eyes blazed again and she would have precipitated herself upon him, but
her father held her fast. "Oh! Oh! Oh! It can't be. It can't be.
It's as unnatural as if you married granny. It isn't fair. How dare
she come here with her whitewash and sneak young girls' lovers away
from them?"

"Really, Janet."

"Oh, I know, you thought you didn't care for me, but you always did,
and I'd have got you in time. I knew there was no chance for Marian
and Anne; they're old maids, and I'm young--_young_. If I'd cut out
the fun and conc