“She has a foolish, insurmountable reason. I am a few years her junior,” he said in a half satiric tone. “And I have a reason that escaped me then. She is rich and I am comparatively poor.”
“Nonsense! There should never be anything but pure love between the man and the woman who are the complement of each other. What a fascinating picture you three made! And you both love the child. I’m glad she is going to have a chance with education. With those eyes she ought to be beyond the ordinary.”
“Then she will be in good hands.”
“Al—you are an idiot. Some day you will rue this shilly-shallying.”
Dr. Richards’ reply was an unmirthful laugh, as if he was not rueing the mischance all the time. But he was proud and would not go back of his word.
CHAPTER XIII
A NEW ATMOSPHERE
They came back to the sleepy grate fire. Miss Armitage said—“You must go to bed for you will have to be up early in the morning.”