If Clifford is suspended, as you say, from college, let Eugenia be his preceptress." Mr.Wentworth continued thoughtful.

"You think Eugenia is a coquette ?" he asked.
"What pretty woman is not ?" Felix demanded in turn.

But this, for Mr.
Wentworth, could at the best have been no answer, for he did not think his niece pretty.

"With Clifford," the young man pursued, "Eugenia will simply be enough of a coquette to be a little ironical.

That 's what he needs.