If distant and severe, Smilash." "No matter what your name may be," said Miss Wilson, much annoyed, "I forbid you to come here or to hold any communication whatever with the young ladies in my charge." "Why ?" "Because I choose." "There is much force in that reason, Miss Wilson; but it is not moral force in the sense conveyed by your college prospectus, which I have read with great interest." Miss Wilson, since her quarrel with Agatha, had been sore on the subject of moral force.

"No one is admitted here," she said, "without a trustworthy introduction or recommendation.

A disguise is not a satisfactory substitute for either." "Disguises are generally assumed for the purpose of concealing crime," he remarked sententiously.
"Precisely so," she said emphatically.
"Therefore, I bear, to say the least, a doubtful character.
Nevertheless, I have formed with some of the students here a slight acquaintance, of which, it seems, you disapprove.

You have given me no good reason why I should discontinue that acquaintance, and you cannot control me except by your wish--a sort of influence not usually effective with doubtful characters.

Suppose I disregard your wish, and that one or two of your pupils come to you and say: 'Miss Wilson, in our opinion Smilash is an excellent fellow; we find his conversation most improving.