You know you may command my services when and how you will." She spoke with the air of a grandduchess offering to obtain court patronage, and my father made her a low, sweeping bow.
Who was she, that she should talk to my father of "unfortunate circumstances," and of her devotion to him?
As for things going wrong, it was not true--my mother, from her sofa, ordered the household, and I knew there was nothing wrong.
When my father saw the angry, pained expression on my face, an idea seemed to occur to him.

He called me to his side, and whispered to me: "You may run away and play, darling; and mind, Laura, you must never repeat one word of what you hear to your mother; it would not do to trouble her when little things go wrong." "Nothing has gone wrong," I answered.

"Although she is ill, mamma sees to everything." I should have said much more, but that my father placed his hand over my mouth.
"Hush! little one," he said.

"I am afraid I give you too much license." "A little wholesome discipline needed," said Miss Reinhart; "but a sweet child, Sir Roland--a sweet child, indeed!" I could not hear what followed, but I feel quite sure that she whispered something which ended in these words: "Too much with Lady Tayne." I ran, fast as I could go, anywhere--where I could give vent to my childish fury.

I could have stamped on her beautiful face.