The act was still girlish, but, nevertheless, she looked down upon him in a superior, patronizing way.

"Now, Clarence," she said, with a half-abstracted manner, "don't you be a big fool! If you talk that way to mother, she'll only tell you to wait two or three years until you know your own mind, and she'll pack me off to that horrid school again, besides watching me like a cat every moment you are here.

If you want to stay here, and see me sometimes like this, you'll just behave as you have done, and say nothing.

Do you see?
Perhaps you don't care to come, or are satisfied with Mary and mother.

Say so, then.