'Well, if we don't the best thing is for him to persuade her that we do.'
'I think he has.'
'I have no doubt he is convinced he sees her room from his room.'
'Don't say so to Cynthy.'
'Juliana! as though I should be such a fool as to say anything about it—the very thing to upset our schemes!'
'Do you remember, Simon, how frightened you once were lest Mrs. Tremenheere should scheme for us?'
The Admiral puffed out his cheeks to hide a little embarrassment. But Mrs. Marlowe looked so inoffensive that this could not be maliciousness.
'I am yet,' he said. 'It's out of a woman's province to scheme, quite beyond it, she'll only make a mess. Now, she's a worldly woman, she'd want Cynthy's money, but we want Anthony because he's a good fellow, and 'll make her happy. No good could come of her scheme, but ours is moral to the marrow. A world of difference, my dear Juliana, a world of difference.'
When Cynthia came out, it was under Mrs. Tremenheere's chaperonage. Since she must come out, it was safest for her to do so with Anthony's mother. She went through two seasons of the conventional routine, refused many offers of marriage, and each time returned happily to Lafer and her friendship with the Tremenheeres. Never for a moment did the Admiral fear for the success of his plan.