"You seem to take no interest in your children, Morton. I thought
Blackford was your particular pride, but the fact that he was
practically expelled from school seemed to make not the slightest
impression on you. I thought that until you _did_ realize that the boy
was wasting his time here, I'd take matters into my own hands. Miss
Garrison seems perfectly competent; she tells me Blackford is very
quick--all he needs is application."
"I hadn't got around to that yet, Hallie. I'd intended taking it up this
week. I'm very busy," murmured Bassett.
His wife's choice of a tutor seemed inconsistent with her earlier
animosity toward Sylvia, but he shrank from asking explanations. Mrs.
Bassett had grown increasingly difficult and arbitrary.
"That's the American father all over! Well, I've done my duty."
"No doubt it's a good arrangement. We've got to keep Blackford in hand.
Where's Marian?"
"She's visiting the Willings at their place at Whitewater. She's been
gone a week."
"The Willings? Not those Burton Willings? How did that happen;--I don't
believe we care to have her visit the Willings."
"They are perfectly nice people," she replied defensively, "and Marian
knew their daughter at school. Allen Thatcher is in the party, and
they're all people we know or know about."
"Well, I don't want Marian visiting around promiscuously.
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