“You dispose of that difficulty very easily,” said her father, amused.
“Why, you see, papa, I am not so terribly old I’ve got plenty of time before me, so that I can spare a year well enough. Besides, I shall be learning something from observation. My governess says that there are two great sources of instruction: one of these is the study of books; and the other, and perhaps the more valuable of the two, is the right use of the faculty of observation.”
In saying this she imitated the prim, methodical tone of her governess, an elderly spinster, at whose little peculiarities Mr. Lindsay had often been secretly amused.
He laughed outright at the excellent imitation given of Miss Pendleton’s manner, and Maud saw that her suit was half won.
“You ought to be a lawyer, Maud,” he said, “you are so good at special pleading.”
“That means that I am going, I suppose, papa?” said Maud, promptly.
“Not so fast. I have got to think it over. I must ask Miss Pendleton what she thinks of it.”
“If you do, papa, will you be kind enough to repeat that remark I made about the two sources of knowledge?”
“No, Maud, I don’t think I shall venture upon such a thing. However, I will take your request into consideration.”