Mr. Bingle had recovered his breath. His voice was high and shrill
with indignation.

"You will oblige me, Force, by permitting me to run my household as I
see fit. If this Madame What's-her-name comes out here to see me, I
shall pack her off to town again so quick her head will swim. We have
brought Kathleen up as if she was our own child, sir, and I don't care
to have any suggestions from you, sir. What's more, I must say--
although it's against the rules of the telephone company--you are a
damned fine man to be giving advice to me about the raising of your
child. You--"

"Sh! For heaven's sake, Bingle, don't shout like that! Be careful,
man!"

"Well, you leave Kathleen to me, that's all I've got to say. She shall
play with the rest of the children as much as she likes, Force. So far
as we are concerned, she's no better than the rest of them, understand
that, sir. She isn't going to be contaminated a darned bit more than
she was before you discovered that she was yours. And, as for that,
she isn't yours until I see fit to give her up. Understand that, too.
Now, if--wait a minute! I'm still talking. Now, if you think you can
give me any pointers on how to bring up children I want to say to you
that you are barking up the wrong tree. Don't you dare to send that
woman here, and don't you dare to dictate to me how--"

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, Bingle," came Mr. Force's agitated
voice through the transmitter. "For heaven's sake, don't fly off the
handle like this. I--I thought I was acting for the best interests of
every one. I was only trying to help you out in--"