"Daddy, what is wrong?" I asked.
He took his pipe out of his mouth, gave a profound sigh, and looked me full in the face.
"There's nothing wrong at all," he said. "I was in a bit of a passion—not a temper—a passion—my passion was right and justifiable, but her ladyship's nearly all right now."
"And won't you let her brother come to see her, Daddy?"
"Stop that, Heather; you are not to question me."
"Then he is not coming?" I said.
"That man shall never darken my doors."
"Daddy!"
"Miss Curiosity is not to know the reason," he said, smiling once more and pinching my cheek. "Now then, look here. Her ladyship is in a bit of a tiff—oh, not much; she'll be herself by this evening. You and she are going to a very big affair to-night, and what do you say to our enjoying a very big affair to-day? Richmond, eh? in her ladyship's motor, eh? and no questions asked, eh, eh?"
"Oh, father, how truly rapturous!"