Master of Hearts by Averil Ives

things after all!
    "Miss O'Farrell" She had no idea she was quite lost in thought and speculation about him until he stood in front of her and spoke levelly. "Will you accept an apology?"
    "An—apology?"
    "Yes, for the reception you received on the first occasion that you came here! I'm afraid you were rather more sinned against than sinning."
    "I don't quite understand," she said, quietly. "You found me on the floor with your nephews, and the room in an uproar. It was hardly likely you would receive a favourable impression of me."
    "Nevertheless, I did!" he told her, surprising her utterly.
     
    She stared at him. His dark-grey eyes gazed back into hers.
    "You put in an appeal for the children, and once you had gone I realised that that was a most unusual thing for a young woman who had been summarily sent about her business to bother to do. They are impossible children, as even you with your sentimental views about young things must recognise, yet something about them touched you sufficiently to make you anxious lest I should exercise my right to stem disciplinary measures that would bring home to them the enormity of their offence in despoiling my library."
    "They did make a frightful mess," she agreed, "but I'm sure it was only due to an excess of high spirits."
    "And you don't think they're the deplorable imps of devilment I think they are?"
    She hesitated, remembering Jerry's confession about the unfortunate Rosa.
    "I think they could have been more wisely handled in the past."
    "I agree with you," he said, and started to pace up and down again. "But, unfortunately, my sister doesn't!"
    She interposed quickly:
    "I met Dona Inez this morning. She sent for me, and we had coffee together."
    He swung round.
    "You did?" She couldn't tell by the expression in his eyes whether he was pleased or otherwise. "And did she explain to you that as an uncle I am an ogre, and as a brother capable of understanding all that she has gone through I leave much to be desired?" His voice was very dry. "Very, very much to be desired!"
    Kathleen felt suddenly extremely awkward.
    "I should hardly think Dona Inez has recovered sufficiently from the tragedy of her husband's death to have opinions about very much," she ventured. "And almost certainly she is grateful to you for providing a home for herself and her two young sons."
     
    His eyes glinted with such harsh mockery that she didn't quite like it.
    "In Portugal the family is everything, and she never doubted that I would do otherwise. But Inez is beautiful, and beauty demands homage. All her life she has received it, and she can't do without it now. She forgets that in addition she possesses a family she herself was partly responsible for creating, and that the claims of beauty must be temporarily set aside until the responsibilities of motherhood have been satisfied. In other words, I think if she was to devote herself to the twins a little more than she does many problems might be simplified."
    "But—but, you said that she doesn't like them to be sternly disciplined."
    "She prefers to allow them to do exactly as they please! And that is an easy way out when they are quite uncontrollable! If anyone is ever to gain control over them it will not be my sister Inez!"
    "Then—?" Kathleen gazed at him rather helplessly. "What—what do you suggest? Do you think that I—"
    "Are the type to gain control over them in time?" He went and sat behind his desk and leaned his elbows on it and studied her openly. "Quite frankly, if you had asked me that question a week ago I would have said `No! Looking at you as you sit here now, so very much more youthful-looking even than Inez, and of rather slighter proportions, I am strongly tempted to say 'No'. But I remember that last night one of the children came seeking you, and that means that you must have made a tremendous impression. I am also strongly inclined to the view that Rosa was driven away from this house by their combined wickedness, and that