"
"And what did he say to that?"
"Well--er--we agreed to leave the decision to you."
"Was that all?"
"Practically all."
"Practically, but not quite. You quarreled, didn't you? Frankly, I
do not understand father's attitude but I know what his attitude is.
He does not want you here. Neither you nor anyone else. The
secretarial work you offer would be--I can't tell you exactly what
it would be to me. It would teach me something--and I am so hungry
to know! But he will find some way to make it impossible. You will
have to go."
"Nonsense! He cannot go back on his agreement."
"You mean he has accepted money? That," bitterly, "means nothing to
him."
"Nevertheless it gives me ground to stand on. And you, too. You have
done secretarial work before?"
"Yes. I have certain qualifications. At intervals I have tried to
make myself independent. Several times I have secured office
positions in Vancouver. But father has always made the holding of
them impossible."
"How?"
"I would rather not go into it." There was weary disgust in her
voice.
"But what reason does he give?"
"That his daughter's place is in her father's house--funny, isn't
it?"
"You do not think that affection has anything to do with it?"
"Not even remotely. Whatever his reason may be for keeping me with
him, it is not that. Affection is something of which one knows by
instinct, don't you think? Even Li Ho--I know instinctively that Li
Ho is fond of me.
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