"
"Nonsense, child; I'm an old man, and I want no racketing. Just
house-room for myself and Victor. That fellow is worth two women in
a house. You'll keep a good cook. I'll never ask for more than a
few old friends to dinner, when I don't feel disposed to have them
at the club."
Old friends! Yes, Lenore knew them, and her flesh crept to think of
Frank's chief hearing of them constantly at his house.
"I don't think we should afford it, dear papa," she said. "We have
agreed that I had better stay with you for the present, and let
Frank make his way."
Then a thought occurred to Sir Harry. "Is this the Poynsetts'
doing?"
"No," said Eleonora, stoutly. "It is mine. I know that--oh! papa,
forgive me!--the things and people you like would not be good for
Frank, and I will not leave you nor bring him into them. Never!"
Sir Harry swore--almost for the first time before her--that this was
that old hag Mrs. Poynsett's doing, and that she would make his
child abandon him in his old age. He would not have his daughter
dragged into a long engagement.
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