"Who? My valet?"
"Certainly. If it were not for that I should be dreadfully frightened. But he'll take care of her, of course. He's just the kind of young man she ought to be with in such an awful predicament. If she were my own daughter I wouldn't ask anything better, under the circumstances."
Bill sneered elaborately.
"He's so absolutely safe," declared Aunt Caroline. "He has such fine, high principles."
"Oh, bunk, Aunt Caroline."
"William, don't you try to disparage that young man. I only wish you had his pure ideals. That's what makes me feel safe about Miss Norcross. He's so sound, and religious, and upright. Why, his very character is sufficient to save the girl's reputation."
Bill was growing restive under the panegyric.
"Her reputation doesn't need any saving," he declared.
"Not with you or me; no. That's perfectly understood. But with the world—that is different. The world will never understand. That is, it would not understand if her companion were anybody but Peter. But when it is known that it was he who guarded her and watched over her——"
"Aunt Caroline, lay off."