Danstartedatthistouchonthequick，buthecontrolledhimself，andsaid，withdignity，“Ihavemyownplans。”
“Well，youknowwhatmother’sare。”returnedEuniceeasily。“YouseemsocheerfulthatIsupposeyoursarequitethesame，andyou’rejustkeepingthemforasurprise。”Shelaughedprovokingly，andDanburstforthagain——
“Youseemtolivetogivepeoplepain。Youtakeafiendishdelightintorturingothers。Butifyouthinkyoucaninfluencemeintheslightestdegree，you’reverymuchmistaken。”
“Well，well，there！Itsha’n’tbeteasedanymore，soitsha’n’t！Itshallhaveitsownway，itshall，andnobodyshallsayawordagainstitslittlegirly’smother。”Eunicerosefromherchair，andpattedDanontheheadasshepassedtotheadjoiningroom。Hecaughtherhand，andflungitviolentlyaway;sheshriekedwithdelightinhischildishresentment，andlefthimsulking。Shewasgonetwoorthreeminutes，andwhenshecamebackitwasinquiteadifferentmood，asoftenhappenswithwomeninalittlelapseoftime。
“Dan，IthinkMissPasmerisabeautifulgirl，andIknowweshallalllikeher，ifyoudon’tsetusagainstherbyyourarrogance。Ofcoursewedon’tknowanythingaboutheryet，andyoudon’t，really;butsheseemsaverylovablelittlething，andifshe’srathersilentandundemonstrative，why，she’llbeallthebetterforyou:you’vegotdemonstrationenoughfortwenty。AndIthinkthefamilyarewellenough。Mrs。Pasmeristhoroughlyharmless;andMr。Pasmerisamostdignifiedpersonage;hiseyebrowsaloneareworththepriceofadmission。”Dancouldnothelpsmiling。“Allthatthereisaboutitis，youmustn’texpecttodrivepeopleintorapturesaboutthem，andexpectthemtogogrovellingroundontheirkneesbecauseyoudo。”