"So you saw all the flowers at Downsbury Castle?" he continued, in the tone of one who asks a question.
"Yes, and beautiful enough they were; but I saw something even fairer than the flowers, papa."
"What was that, Doris?"
"I saw—listen gravely—I remember the whole of the name—I saw the Lady Estelle Hereford, only daughter of his serene and mighty highness, the Duke of Downsbury."
He laughed, but there was something forced and unnatural in the sound.
"I know her," he said, trying to speak calmly; "they are very dear friends of mine. What did you think of her, Doris?"
It was wonderful how he learned to appeal to and rely on the judgment of this fair young daughter.
"I thought her perfectly beautiful, perfectly graceful, perfectly gentle, but tame, papa."
"Tame, child! What do you mean?" he asked.
It was such a novel and not over-pleasant sensation for him to hear a mother called "tame" by her daughter, although it was done in supreme ignorance.