Page 281 - The snake's pass

A TRIP TO PARIS. 269
of his hand as he wished me joy and and all good
fortune. He was, of course, on the side of prudence.
He was my own lawyer and my father's friend ; and it
was right and fitting that he should be. But it was
quite evident that in the background of his musty life
there was some old romance — musty old attorneys
always have romances—so at least say the books. He
entered heartily into my plan; and suggested that, if I
chose, he would come with me to see the school and the
schoolmistress in Paris.
" It will be better, I am sure," he said, " to have
an old man like myself with you, and who can in our
negotiations speak for her father. Indeed, my dear boy,
from being so old a friend of your father's, and having
no children of my own, I have almost come to look
on you as my son, so it will not be much of an effort
to regard Miss Norah as my daughter. The school-
mistress will, in the long run, be better satisfied with
my standing in loco parentis than with your's." It
was a great relief to me to find my way thus
smoothed, for I had half expected some objection or
remonstrance on his part. His kind offer was, of
course, accepted ; and the next morning found us in
Paris.
We went to see the school and the schoolmistress.
All was arranged as we wished. Mr. Chapman did
not forget that Norah wished to have all the extra
branches of study, or that I wished to add all that
could give a charm to her life. The schoolmistress