“I want to keep the baby as long as possible,” she sighed.

Lawrence thought this was absurd, but he supposed all women felt like that.

“Well, I don’t know.” he said. “Personally I don’t see that there’d be any harm in it.”

“It’s such a pity to let her grow up so soon,” Miss Arden answered. “I don’t want to see the bloom knocked off yet.”

This sounded rather alarming; Lawrence had an idea that he had heard the expression before.

“Oh, but she’d be chaperoned!” he said vaguely.

Miss Arden shook her head and became melancholy.

“It can never be the same again,” she said.

“The same as what?” Lawrence was dense, so like a man.

Miss Arden knew quite well what she meant, but unfortunately it was difficult to explain. She sought refuge in a well-used formula.

“Ah, you can’t understand, Lawrence! You’re only a man.”

It was conclusive; Lawrence had no pretensions towards understanding his daughter. He did not say any more.

Since the War had broken out Mr. Hengist had fallen very low in Miss Arden’s estimation. He made munitions, which was most worthy, of course, and he would talk about the War in front of Elizabeth. Miss Arden found him impervious to hints; she was forced to speak plainly. She said:—

“Mr. Hengist, I wonder if you would mind not talking ‘War’ here? Atrocities and things. We know they happen, but I don’t think there’s any need to speak about them.”

“You know they happen,” he answered. “Does Elizabeth?”

“I hope not,” she said gravely. “I don’t approve of young girls reading about all these horrors.”

“Most girls of Elizabeth’s age are doing War-work, and facing facts.”

“Elizabeth is only seventeen,” she reminded him frigidly.

“She’s old enough to know that life isn’t always romantically rose-coloured.”

Miss Arden rose, and put a stop to a possible discussion.

“I think I am the best judge of what is best for Elizabeth, Mr. Hengist.”

Mr. Hengist checked a groan. It was hopeless to argue with Miss Arden; she defeated you at every point.

But the War ended and there was no need to talk about it any more. Elizabeth began to attend classes, and went on a sketching tour, with Miss Arden in the background, to Brittany. She enjoyed herself immensely, and when she came back her father cried, By Jove, she was taller than ever and quite a young lady!