“Why?” Miss Dexter demanded sternly.
“You have a better part in life; we look to you to raise the national tone, to protect the family morals, and keep the home clean.”
Osborne looked amused, and Aynsley undutifully grinned, but Miss Dexter’s expression hinted at rather grim astonishment.
“How is it to be done?” she asked. “What’s the use in our cleaning when you men are allowed to muss up things?”
“That sounds logical,” Aynsley put in. “I’m afraid we really need reforming.”
“You do,” Miss Dexter replied with an air of dry amusement which somewhat surprised her niece. “Idle men in particular are bound to make trouble.”
“It was the busy ones I was thinking of. My idea is that a man’s most dangerous when he’s making money.”
“What’s that?” Clay turned upon his son sternly.
“I believe I heard you agree with Miss Dexter, sir, when she condemned our commercial morality?”
“There’s a difference; she’s a lady,” Clay replied in a decided tone.