CHAPTER XLI.

Dexie stood in the doorway until her lover was out of sight; then, remembering that the little table in the kitchen would tell tales, she was soon stepping briskly about, and quickly removed all traces of the early meal.  Going softly into her father’s room, she found him awake and feeling very well, and in the best of spirits.

“I heard you in the hall,” said he, pretending to scold.  “A fine time for a young man to be leaving the house, isn’t it, now?  I am astonished at you, Dexie!”

“Well, dear papa, I am astonished too!” and they both laughed.  “I am sure if anyone had told me such a thing was about to happen, I would have thought him a fit subject for a lunatic asylum.”

“You look very happy over it, dear, or your face tells a story!  But I thought I smelt coffee when I woke up.”

“So you did!  My young man stayed to breakfast.  What do you think of that?  He says he is going to plead ‘extenuating circumstances,’ if he is brought to the bar.  But don’t you think you would like a cup of coffee and a nice piece of toast?”

“Yes, I think I would; it is rather early for breakfast, but I feel ready for it.”

Dexie was soon beside him with a small tray, and as he drank his coffee he said, as he looked at her keenly: 

“I want to know one thing, Dexie, and then I won’t question you any more.  What was the trouble between you and Traverse these few weeks back?  Something was wrong with you, at any rate, but you do not confide in me as you used to do.”

“Well, you naughty papa!  How could I tell you my little secrets when you let them out the first thing?” she laughingly replied.

Her father looked at her in surprise, and she added,

“I told you not to tell that I broke the engagement with Lancy Gurney, and you told Guy that very first evening.”

“Well, where was the harm?  He seemed very anxious to know about it, and I am sure you seemed to rejoice over your freedom.”

“Yes! but I didn’t want Guy to know it, for it made it so much harder for me to meet him.”

“Dexie, did you break your promise with Lancy on account of Traverse?  Well, well!  I understand it now; but who would have thought that you cared for him when you were so cool and short!”

“You surely would not have me make the first advances, papa?” laughing.

“No; but you might have allowed him a chance to make them himself.  However, all’s well that ends well, and I wish someone would ask to be Gussie’s protector before I am gone—­someone as trustworthy as Traverse.  You are of an age to find life rather hard without someone’s sheltering care, and it will not be long before you will both need it, for your mother is not able to see after you as you need.”

The rattle of pans and dishes told that the kitchen had an occupant, and with a parting word to her father “not to tell on her,” she left the room.