But she had come to understand that she might use a woman's privilege with her tongue; and she used it,--not altogether to his comfort.

On the present occasion he was the more annoyed because he felt that she might be right.

"It would be a positive disgrace, and I never would see him again," he said to himself.

And yet as he said it, he knew that he would not have the strength of character to carry him through a prolonged quarrel with his son.

"I never would see her,--never, never!" he said to himself.