When his step-daughter arrived he simply handed over the keys and the housekeeping money--a fixed sum--and gave her strict instructions not to bother him.

Miss Kendal faithfully observed this injunction, as she enjoyed being undisputed mistress, and knew that, so long as her step-father had his meals, his bed, his bath and his clothes, he required nothing save the constant society of his beloved mummies, of which no one wished to deprive him.

These he dusted and cleansed and rearranged himself.

Not even Lucy dared to invade the museum, and the mere mention of spring cleaning drove the Professor into displaying frantic rage, in which he used bad language.
On returning from her walk with Archie, the girl had lured her step-father into assuming a rusty dress suit, which had done service for many years, and had coaxed him into a promise to be present at dinner.
Mrs.Jasher, the lively widow of the district, was coming, and Braddock approved of a woman who looked up to him as the one wise man in the world.

Even science is susceptible to judicious flattery, and Mrs.
Jasher was never backward in putting her admiration into words.
Female gossip declared that the widow wished to become the second Mrs.
Braddock, but if this was really the case, she had but small chance of gaining her end.