Dad's a good old scout and he's pretty sure to do it." Marian's manner of speaking of her parents disclosed the filial relationship in a new aspect to Sylvia, who did not at once reconcile it with her own understanding of the fifth commandment.

Marian referred to her father variously as "the grand old man," "the true scout," "Sir Morton the good knight," and to her mother as "the Princess Pauline," or "one's mama," giving to _mama_ the French pronunciation.

All this seemed to Sylvia to be in keeping with Marian's general precociousness.
Sylvia had formed the habit of stealing away in the long twilights, after the cheerful gathering at Mrs.Owen's supper-table, for a little self-communing.

Usually Mrs.Owen and Professor Kelton fell to talking of old times and old friends at this hour and Sylvia's disappearances were unremarked.

She felt the joy of living these days, and loved dearly the delaying hour between day and night that is so lovely, so touched with poetry in this region.