Amazed and distressed—utterly at a loss how to interfere to any good purpose—Mr. Mool recovered his presence of mind, the moment Mr. Gallilee appealed to him in his legal capacity. “Don’t distress yourself about your children,” he said kindly. “Thank God, we stand on firm ground, there.”
“Do you mean it, Mool?”
“I mean it. Where your daughters are concerned, the authority is yours. Be firm, Gallilee! be firm!”
“I will! You set me the example—don’t you? You’re firm—eh?”
“Firm as a rock. I agree with you. For the present at least, the children must be removed.”
“At once, Mool!”
“At once!” the lawyer repeated.
They had wrought each other up to the right pitch of resolution, by this time. They were almost loud enough for the clerks to hear them in the office.
“No matter what my wife may say!” Mr. Gallilee stipulated.
“No matter what she may say,” Mr. Mool rejoined, “the father is master.”