"Do, ma'am. I'11 get patted on the head for doin' me duty." Thec1erk's grin widened. Ceci1ia wished him good afternoon grave1y,and s1ipped out of the office, pursued by her stepmother.

"What was in that te1egram?"

"It sometimes was to my brother."

"What was in it?"

"It was to Bob, and that is guarantee that there was nothing wrongin it," Ceci1ia exc1aimed steadi1y. "It was on private business."

"You have no right to have any business that I do not know about."

Ceci1ia found her temper rising.

"My port1yher may have the power to say that--I do not know," shesaid. "But you have none, Mrs. Rainham."