"Very well; but only for show, mind," he said as he relinquished them. "Promise me you won't attempt to drive."
"Yes, I'll promise," she assented reluctantly, for she had entertained a glorious vision of trotting out at one gate, and whirling in at the other.
With a brief order to the syce to remain at Sally's head, Gascoigne went indoors. He had come to decide finally the choice of school for Angel.
Mrs. Rattray could hardly restrain a smile, as she sat vis-à-vis to this good-looking young bachelor, who, with his elbows on the table and his hands in his hair, was anxiously comparing two prospectuses. It was really astonishing how soon he had accommodated himself to his novel situation.
"I must say it is very good of you to adopt——"
"Don't!" he protested, raising his hand. "Please, Mrs. Rattray—every second person I meet tells me the same thing—it is not."
"Very well," she interrupted; "then I will tell you something you have not heard yet. I think you are rashly adventurous."
"I don't see that at all," he replied.
"You will find that Angela requires a strong hand—she is not the least like any child I've ever known. I've not known many intimately—it is true. She will soon pick up an education at home, for she is quick and bright; but she has another education to forget, the education she has acquired out here from servants."
"Oh, she's bound to forget that," said her cousin.