"It is to you; I'm not bothering about her."
"You will when you see her, first sight. To-morrow afternoon, you say. Wish I could be there when your eyes first light on her! Mother, dearie, isn't it as much she as I you've come to see?"
"Well, if it is, what then?"
"I'm glad. But I draw the line at seeing. Help, you understand, I don't want--I won't have!"
"Why, Geoffry, I----!"
"Oh, I say it because there isn't one of that kind-hearted coterie who hasn't wanted to put in something in my favor. I forbid! A dozen to one--I won't allow it! No, nor any two to one, not even we two. Win or lose, I go it alone. 'Twould be fatal to do otherwise if I would. You'll see that the minute you see her."
"Why, Geoffry! What a heat!"
"Oh, I'll be the only one burned. Good night. I can't see you to-morrow before evening. Shall we dine here?"
"Yes. Oh, Geoffry--that New York letter! Manuscript accepted?"
A shade crossed the son's brow. "Don't you think I ought to tell her first?"