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XXVIII. The Prince Comes Back to the Enchanted Palace
Fatherishere...justthinkofthat!Fatherishere!Comerightin.Father,thisismybeautifulteacher.YOUknow,father.”
StephenIrvingcameforwardtomeetAnnewithasmile.Hewasatall,handsomemanofmiddleage,withiron-grayhair,deep-set,darkblueeyes,andastrong,sadface,splendidlymodeledaboutchinandbrow.Justthefaceforaheroofromance,Annethoughtwithathrillofintensesatisfaction.Itwassodisappointingtomeetsomeonewhooughttobeaheroandfindhimbaldorstooped,orotherwiselackinginmanlybeauty.AnnewouldhavethoughtitdreadfuliftheobjectofMissLavendar’sromancehadnotlookedthepart.
“Sothisismylittleson’s‘beautifulteacher,’ofwhomIhaveheardsomuch,”saidMr.Irvingwithaheartyhandshake.“Paul’slettershavebeensofullofyou,MissShirley,thatIfeelasifIwereprettywellacquaintedwithyoualready.IwanttothankyouforwhatyouhavedoneforPaul.Ithinkthatyourinfluencehasbeenjustwhatheneeded.Motherisoneofthebestanddearestofwomen;butherrobust,matter-of-factScotchcommonsensecouldnotalwaysunderstandatemperamentlikemyladdie’s.Whatwaslackinginheryouhavesupplied.Betweenyou,IthinkPaul’straininginthesetwopastyearshasbeenasnearlyidealasamotherlessboy’scouldbe.”
Everybodylikestobeappreciated.UnderMr.
