Lady Johnson laid a hand on Penelope's, who looked up at her with that shy, engaging smile I had already noticed. And,
"Penelope," said she, "if rumour does not lie, and if all our young gallants do truly gather 'round when you take your knitting to the porch of Cayadutta Lodge, then you should make it very plain to all that you are a parson's daughter as well as servant to Douw Fonda."
"How should I conduct, my lady?"
"Firmly, child. And send any light o' love a-packing at the first apropos!"
"Oh, lud!" says Claudia, "would you make a nun of her, Polly? Sure the child must learn——"
"Learn to take care of herself," quoth Polly Johnson tartly. "You have been schooled from childhood, Claudia, and heaven knows you have had opportunities enough to study that beast called man!"
"I love him, too," said Claudia. "Do you, Penelope?"
"Men please me," said the Scotch girl shyly. "I do not think them beasts."
"They bite," snapped Lady Johnson.
"Slap them," said Claudia,—"and that is all there is to it."