You see,
I have no illusions concerning my family. Only Carroll has held to
her freedom of soul, because that's the joyous, free, sweet nature
of her, bless her! For the first time she's pitted her will against
mother's, and it's a bad clash."
"Your mother objected?" asked Orde.
Gerald laughed a little bitterly. "It was very bad," said he.
"You've grown horns, hoofs, and a tail overnight. There's nothing
too criminal to have escaped your notice. I have been forbidden to
consort with you. So has the general. The battle of last night had
to do with your coming to the house at all. As it is not Carroll's
house, naturally she has no right to insist."
"I shall not be permitted to see her?" cried Orde.
"I did not say that. Carroll announced then quite openly that she
would see you outside. I fancy that was the crux of the matter.
Don't you see? The whole affair shifted ground. Carroll has
offered direct disobedience. Oh, she's a bully little fighter!" he
finished in admiring accents. "You can't quite realise what she's
doing for your sake; she's not only fighting mother, but her own
heart."
Orde found a note at the hotel, asking him to be in Washington
Square at half-past two.
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