Then, in an indolently casual way, she asked: "Who was that gentleman who rode by just now ?" Her father glanced at her suspiciously as he took off his overcoat.
"Now, how on earth should I know, my dear Maude!" he replied, with a short, harsh laugh.

"Some young farmer or cattle dealer, I imagine." "I said _gentleman_," she retorted, with something approaching insolence.

"You will permit _me_ to know the difference." Her father coloured angrily, as if she had stung him.
"You'd better go upstairs and take off your things while I order dinner," he said..