Mr. Langham looked exceedingly uncomfortable, and turned appealingly to his elder daughter. "What do you think, Alice?" he said, doubtfully.
"I'm sorry," Miss Langham replied, "but I know it would not be at all proper. I hate to seem horrid about it, Hope, but indeed you are too young, and the men here are not the men a young girl ought to meet."
"You meet them, Alice," said Hope, but pulling off her gloves in token of defeat.
"But, my dear child, I'm fifty years older than you are."
"Perhaps Alice knows best, Hope," Mr. Langham said. "I'm sorry if you are disappointed."
Hope held her head a little higher, and turned toward the door.
"I don't mind if you don't wish it, father," she said. "Good-night." She moved away, but apparently thought better of it, and came back and stood smiling and nodding to them as they seated themselves in the carriage. Mr. Langham leaned forward and said, in a troubled voice, "We will tell you all about it in the morning. I'm very sorry. You won't be lonely, will you? I'll stay with you if you wish."
"Nonsense!" laughed Hope. "Why, it's given to you, father; don't bother about me. I'll read something or other and go to bed."
"Good-night, Cinderella," King called out to her.
"Good-night, Prince Charming," Hope answered.