extremely likely that Mr. Dorsett is to have a successor this week or next. Whether or not I am to become president of our company, now depends" he glanced from the window to Marjorie when he said "now," and when, immediately, he repeated it; and she wondered if he knew of her encounter with Stanway. If he did, he betrayed it by no other sign than iterating—"now depends on the directors' confidence in my state of health. Nothing can show our certainty of it better than your mother and you adhering to your known plan when I return to my office next week. I have bought the cabin for you for a week from Saturday."
Marjorie moved tensely nearer him, with muscles throughout her body pulling in an emotion new to her. She did not feel angry so much as she felt held cheaply and as a child; for a moment she was so stiff that her lips seemed unable to move and, trembling, she said, "I have not the slightest idea of going to Europe, father."
"Why not?"
"Why should I?"
"You had planned to, Marjorie," he repeated, very quietly. "You were going with your mother. She will expect you to go now."
"Yes; and you, father?"
He understood what she meant, but he would not show it. Instead, he said, "I expect you to go, dear. I want you to go." And the way he requested that almost disarmed her and suddenly, before she could be reprepared against him, he leaned forward and completed her discomfiture, "I ask you to go, Marjorie."
She fought to stop the quivering of her lips, but it
