"Very soon," he said, "we must all have a serious talk about the future. The management is getting too big for me. I think there should be a council elected—something of the sort must be done, and soon."
"That," she remarked, "is what Mr. Lavilette says, isn't it?"
He looked at her with twinkling eyes.
"Oh, you needn't think I'm being scared into it," he answered. "All the same, Lavvy's right enough. No one man has the right to accept large subscriptions and not let the public into his confidence."
"Lavilette doesn't believe in our anonymous subscriptions, does he?" she asked.
"No! He's rather impudent about that, isn't he? I suppose I ought really to set him right. I should have done so before, but he went about it in such an offensive manner. Well, to go on with what I was saying. You will come on the council, Mary?"
"I? Oh, surely not!"
"You will! And, what is more, I am going to split all the branches up into divisions, and appoint superintendents and manageresses, at a reasonable salary. And you," he concluded, "are going to be one of the latter."
She shook her head firmly.
"No! I must remain my own mistress."