"  I  must  indeed  be  getting  old,  Jenny,  when  it
is  imagined  that  I  can  be  tracked  like  a  wayward
boy.  I  owe  you  a  great  reparation.  I  should
have  left  you  to  enjoy  your  triumph  in  your  own
way."

"  Daddy,  I  don't  want  to  go  back  to  the  stage.
I  would  rather  not."

"  You  shall  not  go  back,  Jenny.  That  is  already
settled.  But  all  the  same  it  is  my  fault."

"It  is  not  your  fault.  The  world  has  such
a  horrid  mind."

"  You  see,  Jenny,  Sarah  is  a  dear  soul,  but  she
280


JENNY  281

is  a  missionary,  and  missionaries  are  in  search  of
evil.  I  have  a  theory  that  what  is  wanted  is  a
missionary  society  to  find  out  all  the  good  in  the
world,  and  to  rejoice  over  it  when  it  is  found.
Never  mind,  it  shall  be  made  up  to  you.  I  have  an
idea.  We  will  teach  them  all  a  lesson."

He  took  both  her  hands  and  pressed  them,  as  if
to  give  her  courage.  "  Jenny,  be  proud  !  "

"  I  am  going  to  be.     I  will  never  forgive  him."

"  Oh,  him  !     We  have  forgotten  him."

Jenny  gave  a  brave  little  nod  of  assent.
"  Jenny."  He  looked  at  her  gravely.  "  You
mustn't  laugh,  and  you  mustn't  have  hysterics
at  what  I  am  going  to  say  to  you.  I  don't  think
you  will  have  hysterics,  because  you  are  not  the
hysterical  kind."

She  looked  at  him  in  wonder.  He  was  serious,
but  there  was  a  twinkle  at  the  back  of  his
eyes.
"  Jenny,  if  you  like,  I  will  make  you  a  duchess."

Jenny's  eyes  grew  wider.
