Scholar Ross shook his head. "With this poor record, this
non-cooperation," he said slowly, "it will be well nigh impossible
to arrange another union, furthermore, if Harrison carries out his
threat--"
Gloria said quickly, "If he wants to, he can talk Bertie into anything.
Anything. Such as signing the most frightful complaints and being
convinced of their absolute truth and justice."
Mr. Hanford said, "If that's true, he could also be talked back out of
them."
Scholar Ross shook his head again. "That presupposes that you could
arrange access to Bertram that couldn't be overcome by another
talking-to by his parents. It won't work. The young man is a mental
weathervane."
"So where do we stand?"
"As I say, we might as well prepare for the worst. If the case of
Gloria Hanford ever comes under the scrutiny of the Law, she will be
declared either a delinquent or an incorrigible, depending upon whether
her escapades are ruled misdemeanors or felonies." Scholar Ross turned
to Gloria Hanford. "I warned you. Now, where we of the Department of
Domestic Tranquility have no power to force you into a proper course
of action, you'll find that the Law most certainly has. Miss Hanford,
the Law will decide just how dangerous you are to the civic peace. Upon
that decision, the law will further decide what action it must take to
protect that civic peace from you."
He paused. A silence followed his statements. He waited a few moments
to let his words sink in. Then he walked to the door and said:
"As of now, the future of Miss Gloria Hanford is out of my hands."