"Do that, then," she agreed quickly. "Greg, will bring me!"
"By George," said Clarence darkly to his hostess, "I'd be a long time doing that to you, Gertrude! If you had a daughter--"
"My dear Clarence, your daughter is old enough to know her own mind!" Mrs. Whittaker said impatiently.
"And you're only making me conspicuous for something that's ENTIRELY in your own brain!" blazed Billy. As usual, her influence over her father was instantaneous.
"Because I love you, you know that," he said meekly. "I--I may be TOO careful, Billy. But--"
"Nonsense!" said Billy in a nervous undertone close to tears. "If you loved me you'd have some consideration for me!"
"When I say a thing, don't you say it's nonsense," Clarence said with heavy fatherly dignity. "I'll tell you why--because I won't stand for it!"
"Oh, aren't they hopeless!" Mrs. Whittaker asked with an indulgent laugh and a glance for Rachael.
"Well, I won't be taken home like a bad child!" flamed Billy.
"I'd like to bump both your silly heads together," Rachael exclaimed, steering them toward the porch. "Yes, you bring the car around, Kent," she added to one of the onlookers in an urgent aside. "Come on, Bill? get in. Get in, Clarence! Don't be an utter fool--"