At five o’clock the following afternoon, while Madelaine was dressing for dinner, Gracia entered her room and passed through to her daughter’s. She dismissed the maid and closed the door.
“I’ve just had an answer to my cable,” she announced. “Amos and Margaret are not coming back until spring. Amos is asking as a special favor that I keep Gordon here and look after him until he gets back and can deal with him.”
“But what of that, mother? I’m sure——”
“I’m sure that young barbarian will succeed in ingratiating himself into your sympathies, Madelaine. Make you believe he’s not the thing he emphatically is. I can’t very well deny Margaret’s boy the shelter of my home. But I can and shall deny him propinquity with my daughter. Madelaine, please take it kindly and believe it hurts me far more than it does yourself. But I’m going to send you away—to school.”
It was the girl’s turn to struggle with self for a moment. Then in even voice she replied quietly:
“Of course, I’ll do whatever pleases you, mother dear. For after all, you know, I’m indebted to you more than I can ever repay.”
Mrs. Theddon uttered a little cry.
“No, no! Madelaine! Don’t take it that way! You’re not a helpless mercenary—you weren’t bought——”
She stopped. The misery on the girl’s face was unmistakable.
“Wasn’t I, mother dear? I thought I was—for a thousand dollars——”