Her father considered her answer in silence for a moment or two; then he looked over at his wife.
"Elizabeth," he said. "Isn't it time for these young persons to go to bed?"
She glanced up at the clock. "I think it is, dear," she replied. "But——"
He checked her with a quick look. "I shall have to think this over," he said, setting Doris upon her feet. Then he put his arm about his son and kissed him. "Good-night, Carroll."
Doris, dimpling and rosy, lifted her eager little face to her father's; but he deliberately put her aside.
"Aren't you going to kiss me, too, daddy?" wailed the child, in a sudden passion of affection and something akin to fear. "I love you, daddy!"
"I'm a little afraid of you, Dorry," her father said gravely. "I'm not sure that you are entirely safe to—kiss."
"But I wouldn't bite you, daddy! I wouldn't!"
"Why wouldn't you?"