“I’m not sure that I’d give my daughter into her charge,” said Emily.
“Why do you say that?”
“Oh, I think it all depends upon the woman.”
“Any woman who couldn’t be trusted with the moon as a chaperon, either wouldn’t be safe with any chaperon or wouldn’t be worth saving from the consequences of her own folly.”
“Possibly. But—I confess I wouldn’t trust even myself implicitly to that old lady up there, as you call her.”
“But you are doing so this evening.”
“Mercy, no. I’ve two other guardians—myself and you.”
“Thank you for including me. I’m afraid I don’t deserve it.”
“Then I’ll try to arrange it so that I sha’n’t have to call you in to help me.”
“Would you think me very absurd if I told you, in the presence of your chaperon, that”—His look made her’s waver for an instant—“I must have my orchid?”