Her lips were thin. So was her nose. Her alert eyes showed no traces of tears.
Presently she spoke.
“You seem to have a false idea of your position here,” she said. “I don’t know what gloss Joseph may have put on my request that you stay in this house while he is away. But I think it is always better to be honest and to have a mutual understanding in advance.”
“But I don’t understand,” faltered Dad. “I—”
“I don’t wish to hurt your feelings,” she continued. “But, as I said, it is best to be honest and above-board. I told Joseph you had better stay here, so that there would be fewer chances of your—of your doing what might pass discredit on us while he is away. And I told him there were many light bits of work by which you could make yourself useful to me and avoid the idleness that might send you into bad companionship. I hope you will not abuse my trust; or add to my annoyances in any way.”
“I—I shall try not to,” said Dad dazedly.
“And now,” added Marcia briskly, “I’ll have to ask you to get your dinner down-town to-day. My brother and his wife are dining with me.”
“Yes, ma’am,” assented the old man.
CHAPTER VIII
COUNCIL OF WAR
DAD lay on a bed a little too short for him and looked up wide-eyed at the rafters above his head.