n there!
She did most of the quarrelling, of course; he was merely firm, but for
all that I have never seen him angrier. There were terrible scenes, so
embarrassing. One hates so to have the servants get to know about
these things, and really they couldn't help knowing."

"What was it all about? Do you know?"

"Oh, yes, I know. It was about the amount of money Therese had been
spending. It seems your father suddenly for some reason took it into
his head to go through her pass-book. Apparently he was horrified at
the frequent large sums she was drawing to herself--oh, not for
dressmakers or anything of that sort. Naturally he asked what she was
doing with all that money, and eventually it came out she had been
losing it at baccarat."

"Baccarat!"

"Well, you know your father has never much approved of gambling, beyond
what he calls a mild flutter; so when he found she was throwing away
several thousands a year----"

"As much as that?"

"I believe so. I never heard the exact amount, but it was staggering,
that much I know. At any rate, he put a stop to it at once. He went
carefully into all her legitimate expenses, and the result was he made
her a fixed allowance--oh, a generous one--he has never been mean with
her--only if she wants more, he must be told what it's for."

"Good boy!" murmured Roger with approval. "So of course she was in a
devil of a rage?"

"Devil expresses it rather well, I'm afraid, Roger. I've only seen one
other person so violent, and that was an Irish cook we had before you
were born, who drank raw spirit out of the bottle. As for Therese, she
stormed first, then she wept, and was pathetic, then she raged again.
Altogether she must have tried everything, but you know what your
father is like when he takes a stand. At last she shut herself up in
her room and sent for the doctor. She declared she was ill, and
threatened going into a nursing home. After a few days, however, she
came to herself, very subdued, but much more pleasant and anxious to
please. I can't help thinking she might have been better all along if
Charles hadn't spoiled her so, if from the start he had taken a firmer
hand."

Roger frowned a little dubiously.

"A woman, a spaniel and a walnut tree----" he murmured. "At any rate,
I am very glad for the old man's sake, and yours, too!"

"Yes, as you know, I would never stay here if your father didn't insist
on it, but now it is much more agreeable; there i