“She seems to have all the comforts and necessities of life,” said the big man, looking about him with an affectation of approval.
“Everything that I can afford, sir,” said Harvey, blandly.
“Have you ever thought of putting her in a nice school for––” 81
“She enters kindergarten before the holidays,” interrupted the father.
“I mean a—er—sort of boarding school,” put in the big man, uneasily. “Where she could be brought up under proper influences, polished up, so to speak. You know what I mean. Miss Duluth has often spoken of such an arrangement. In fact, her heart seems to be set on it.”
“You mean she—she wants to send her away to school?” asked Harvey, blankly.
“It is a very common and excellent practice nowadays,” said the other, lamely.
The little man was staring at him, his blue eyes full of dismay.
“Why—why, I don’t believe I’d like that,” he said, grasping the arms of his chair with tense fingers. “She’s doing all right here. It’s healthy here, and I am sure the schools are good enough. Nellie has never said anything to me about boarding school. Why—why, Mr. Fairfax, Phoebe’s only five—not quite that, and I—I think it would be cruel to put her off among strangers. When she’s fifteen or sixteen, maybe, but not now. Nellie don’t mean that, I’m sure.” 82
“There is a splendid school for little girls up in Montreal—a sort of convent, you know. They get the best of training, moral, spiritual, and physical. It is an ideal life for a child. Nellie has been thinking a great deal of sending her there. In fact, she has practically decided to––”