and--"

"You'll do nothing of the sort! You'd look nice starting off
alone on a railroad trip! Why, I don't believe you've ever been
to Newark in your life! Nobody has! It isn't done!"

Eunice was half whimsical, half angry, but her stormy eyes
presaged combat and her rising color indicated decided annoyance.

"Done!" cried her aunt. "Conventions mean nothing to me! Abby
Ames makes social laws--she does not obey those made by others!"

"You can't do that in New York, Aunt Abby. In your old Boston,
perhaps you had a certain dictatorship, but it won't do here.
Moreover, I have rights as your hostess, and I forbid you to go
skylarking about by yourself."

"You amuse me, Eunice!"

"I had no intention of being funny, I assure you."

"While not distinctly humorous, the idea of your forbidding me
is, well--oh, my gracious, Eunice, listen to this: 'The man
chosen for Hanlon's "guide" is the Hon. James L. Mortimer--'
--h'm--'High Street--' Why, Eunice, I've heard of Mortimer
--he's--"

"I don't care who he is, Aunt Abby, and I wish you'd drop the
subject."