After a moment's pause there was the sound of retreating footsteps, and all was quiet again.
"Why, for goodness' sake, didn't you answer, Yerba ?" asked the shorter girl.
"Oh, I hate him!" responded Yerba.

"He only wanted to bore me with his stupid, formal, sham-parental talk.

Because he's my official guardian he thinks it necessary to assume this manner towards me when we meet, and treats me as if I were something between his stepdaughter and an almshouse orphan or a police board.

It's perfectly ridiculous, for it's only put on while he is in office, and he knows it, and I know it, and I'm tired of making believe.

Why, my dear, they change every election; I've had seven of them, all more or less of this kind, since I can remember." "But I thought there were two others, dear, that were not official," said her companion, coaxingly.
Yerba sighed.