If he went near the house there was no escaping her.

And when he once asked Flora to ride with him he straightway discovered that Mama Joy had developed a passion for riding and went along.

Flora had only time to murmur a rapid sentence or two while Mama Joy was hunting her gloves.
"Mama Joy has been taking the _Ladies' Home Journal_" she said ironically, "and she has been converted to the idea that a girl must never be trusted alone with a man.

I've acquired a chaperon now! Have you begun to study diplomacy yet, Billy Boy ?" "Does she chapyron yuh this fervent when the Pilgrim's the man ?" countered Billy resentfully.
He did not get an answer, because Mama Joy found her gloves too soon, but he learned his lesson and did not ask Flora to ride with him again.

Nevertheless, he tried surreptitiously to let her know the reason and so prevent any misunderstanding.
He knew that Flora was worrying over her father, and he would like to have cheered her all he could; but he had no desire to cheer Mama Joy as well--he would not even give her credit for needing cheer.