But Miss Boyson gave it at once a personal meaning, and set herself to play on what she scornfully supposed to be the cupidity of the Englishman.

She produced, indeed, a full and particular account of Daphne Floyd's parentage, possessions, and prospects, during which the General's countenance represented him with great fidelity.

A trace of recalcitrance at the beginning--for it was his opinion that Miss Boyson, like most American women, talked decidedly too much--gave way to close attention, then to astonishment, and finally to a very animated observation of Miss Floyd's slender person as she sat a yard or two from him on the other side of the car, laughing, frowning, or chattering with Roger.
"And that poor child has the management of it all ?" he said at last, in a tone which did him credit.

He himself had lost an only daughter at twenty-one, and he held old-fashioned views as to the helplessness of women.
But Cecilia Boyson again misunderstood him.
"Oh, yes!" she said, with a cool smile.

"Everything is in her own hands--everything! Mrs.Phillips would not dare to interfere.