To Barstow's surprise and disappointment, when he named a time for her first lesson in dancing Daisy refused to go.
"Mrs. Linnevitch thinks I better not be going out nights, Mr. Barstow," she said. "But thank you ever so much, all the same."
"Well," said Barstow, "I'm disappointed. But that's nothing, if you're not."
Daisy blushed. "But I am," she said.
"Then," said he, "never mind what they say. Come on!"
Daisy shook her head. "I promised."
"Look here, Miss Obloski, what's wrong? Let's be honest, whatever else we are. Is it because they know something against me, because they think they do, or because they know that they don't?"
"It's that," said Daisy. "Mr. Linnevitch don't want me to be going out with any one he don't know about."
Barstow was obviously relieved. "Thank you," he said. "That's all square now. It isn't Mrs. Linnevitch; it's the boss. It isn't going out in general; it's going out with me!"
Then he surprised her. "The boss is absolutely right," he said. "I'm for him, and, Miss Obloski, I won't ask you to trust me until I've proved to Linnevitch that I'm a proper guardian——"