"I believe you are not aware, Mr. Flaker, that the young lady you call Miss Gemmell is not my own daughter."
"Your stepchild is she, or your husband's niece?"
"Neither. She is no relation at all—just a poor girl whom I have taken up to educate. She can barely read or write. I felt that I ought to tell you this because you have been paying her a good deal of attention."
"Indeed, Mrs. Gemmell, I admire Miss Gemmell very much; but I assure you I never regarded her as anything else than a pleasant summer acquaintance."
And Mary was dropped forthwith.
