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〃But you're not；〃 interrupted Peter； 〃that's just what I'm trying to get
out of your head。 It is I who am bringing her up。 And between
ourselves； I wish you wouldn't interfere so much。〃
〃You are not fit to bring up a girl。〃
〃I've brought her up for seven years without your help。 She's my
adopted daughter； not yours。 I do wish people would learn to mind
their own business。〃
〃You've done very well 〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Peter Hope sarcastically。 〃It's very kind of you。
Perhaps when you've time； you'll write me out a testimonial。〃
〃up till now；〃 concluded the imperturbable Clodd。 〃A girl of
eighteen wants to know something else besides mathematics and the
classics。 You don't understand them。〃
〃I do understand them；〃 asserted Peter Hope。 〃What do you know
about them？ You're not a father。〃
〃You've done your best；〃 admitted William Clodd in a tone of
patronage that irritated Peter greatly； 〃but you're a dreamer； you don't
know the world。 The time is coming when the girl will have to think of
a husband。〃
〃There's no need for her to think of a husband； not for years；〃
retorted Peter Hope。 〃And even when she does； is strumming on the
piano going to help her？〃
〃I tinkI tink；〃 said Dr。 Smith； who had hitherto remained a silent
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listener； 〃our young frent Clodd is right。 You haf never quite got over
your idea dat she was going to be a boy。 You haf taught her de tings a
boy should know。〃
〃You cut her hair；〃 added Clodd。
〃I don't；〃 snapped Peter。
〃You let her have it cutit's the same thing。 At eighteen she knows
more about the ancient Greeks and Romans than she does about her own
frocks。〃
〃De young girl；〃 argued the doctor； 〃what is she？ De flower dat
makes bright for us de garden of life； de gurgling brook dat murmurs by
de dusty highway； de cheerful fire〃
〃She can't be all of them；〃 snapped Peter； who was a stickler for style。
〃Do keep to one simile at a time。〃
〃Now you listen to plain sense；〃 said William Clodd。 〃You wantwe
all wantthe girl to be a success all round。〃
〃I want her〃 Peter Hope was rummaging among the litter on the
desk。 It certainly was not there。 Peter pulled out a drawer…two
drawers。 〃I wish；〃 said Peter Hope； 〃I wish sometimes she wasn't quite
so clever。〃
The old doctor rummaged among dusty files of papers in a corner。
Clodd found it on the mantelpiece concealed beneath the hollow foot of
a big brass candlestick； and handed it to Peter。
Peter had one vicethe taking in increasing quantities of snuff；
which was harmful for him； as he himself admitted。 Tommy；
sympathetic to most masculine frailties； was severe； however； upon this
one。
〃You spill it upon your shirt and on your coat；〃 had argued Tommy。
〃I like to see you always neat。 Besides； it isn't a nice habit。 I do wish；
dad； you'd give it up。〃
〃I must；〃 Peter had agreed。 〃I'll break myself of it。 But not all at
onceit would be a wrench； by degrees； Tommy； by degrees。〃
So a compromise had been compounded。 Tommy was to hide the
snuff… box。 It was to be somewhere in the room and to be accessible； but
that was all。 Peter； when self…control had reached the breaking… point；
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might try and find it。 Occasionally； luck helping Peter； he would find it
early in the day； when he would earn his own bitter self…reproaches by
indulging in quite an orgie。 But more often Tommy's artfulness was
such that he would be compelled； by want of time； to abandon the search。
Tommy always knew when he had failed by the air of indignant
resignation with which he would greet her on her return。 Then perhaps
towards evening； Peter； looking up； would see the box open before his
nose； above it； a pair of reproving black eyes； their severity
counterbalanced by a pair of full red lips trying not to smile。 And Peter；
knowing that only one pinch would be permitted； would dip deeply。
〃I want her；〃 said Peter Hope； feeling with his snuff…box in his hand
more confidence in his own judgment； 〃to be a sensible； clever woman；
capable of earning her own living and of being independent； not a mere
helpless doll； crying for some man to come and take care of her。〃
〃A woman's business；〃 asserted Clodd； 〃is to be taken care of。〃
〃Some women； perhaps；〃 admitted Peter； 〃but Tommy； you know very
well； is not going to be the ordinary type of woman。 She has brains；
she will make her way in the world。〃
〃It doesn't depend upon brains；〃 said Clodd。 〃She hasn't got the
elbows。〃
〃The elbows？〃
〃They are not sharp enough。 The last 'bus home on a wet night tells
you whether a woman is capable of pushing her own way in the world。
Tommy's the sort to get left on the kerb。〃
〃She's the sort；〃 retorted Peter； 〃to make a name for herself and to be
able to afford a cab。 Don't you bully me！〃 Peter sniffed self…
assertiveness from between his thumb and finger。
〃Yes； I shall；〃 Clodd told him； 〃on this particular point。 The poor
girl's got no mother。〃
Fortunately for the general harmony the door opened at the moment
to admit the subject of discussion。
〃Got that Daisy Blossom advertisement out of old Blatchley；〃
announced Tommy； waving triumphantly a piece of paper over her head。
〃No！〃 exclaimed Peter。 〃How did you manage it？〃
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〃Asked him for it；〃 was Tommy's explanation。
〃Very odd；〃 mused Peter； 〃asked the old idiot for it myself only last
week。 He refused it point…blank。〃
Clodd snorted reproof。 〃You know I don't like your doing that sort
of thing。 It isn't proper for a young girl〃
〃It's all right；〃 assured him Tommy； 〃he's bald！〃
〃That makes no difference；〃 was Clodd's opinion。
〃Yes it does；〃 was Tommy's。 〃I like them bald。〃
Tommy took Peter's head between her hands and kissed it； and in
doing so noticed the tell…tale specks of snuff。
〃Just a pinch； my dear；〃 explained Peter； 〃the merest pinch。〃
Tommy took up the snuff…box from the desk。 〃I'll show you where
I'm going to put it this time。〃 She put it in her pocket。 Peter's face
fell。
〃What do you think of it？〃 said Clodd。 He led her to the corner。
〃Good idea； ain't it？〃
〃Why； where's the piano？〃 demanded Tommy。
Clodd turned in delighted triumph to the others。
〃Humbug！〃 growled Peter。
〃It isn't humbug；〃 cried Clodd indignantly。 〃She thought it was a
bookcaseanybody would。 You'll be able to sit there and practise by
the hour；〃 explained Clodd to Tommy。 〃When you hear anybody
coming up the stairs； you can leave off。〃
〃How can she hear anything when she〃 A bright idea occurred to
Peter。 〃Don't you think； Clodd； as a practical man；〃 suggested Peter
insinuatingly； adopting the Socratic method； 〃that if we got her one of
those dummy pianosyou know what I mean； it's just like an ordinary
piano； only you don't hear it？〃
Clodd shook his head。 〃No good at all。 Can't tell the effect she is
producing。〃
〃Quite so。 Then； on the other hand； Clodd； don't you thin