“I suppose so.”
“You will uphold my authority when the girls come to you, as perhaps they will, and ask you to interfere?”
“Oh, Sophia, you won’t be hard on the poor children?”
“I will be just to them. You will uphold my authority?”
“Ye—s.”
“If I think it necessary to punish them, you won’t condemn the punishment?”
“Oh, please, Sophia, do go away! The night is passing quickly. I never think well by daylight.”
“Put it on paper, Henry. Or stay! that will take too long. Give me a sheet of paper; I will write what I require. I only want your signature.”
Poor Mr. Dale had to search among his papers for a blank sheet. Miss Sophia seized his special stylographic pen, pressed very hard on the nib, and wrote what she required. Mr. Dale felt certain he would find it quite spoilt when he came to use it again. But at last all her requirements were on paper, and Henry Dale wrote his signature at the end.
“Thank you, Henry; you have acted wisely. You have your study now to yourself.”