“I really was not to blame for that, Polly,” said Mr. Lavine.
“You were! Whether you realize it yourself, or not, you are the cause of all our troubles, for they began with your being angry with father over the Steel Rivet Corporation deal. I know. He’s told me about it himself.”
Mr. Lavine was putting a strong brake upon his temper. He was deeply grateful to Polly; but he was a proud man, too.
“Let us put aside the difference of opinion between John Jarley and myself, my dear girl,” he said, quietly. “Perhaps he and I had better discuss that; not you and I. Bessie, I know, wishes to be your friend, and so do I. Had you not rescued her from the lake as you did, Polly, I should be mourning her death. It is a terrible thing to think of!”
Polly was silenced by this. But if she did not look actually sullen, she certainly gave no sign of giving way.
“So, my dear, you must see how strongly we both feel. You would be doing a kind action, Polly, if you allowed Bessie to be your friend.”
“That is true, Polly,” cried Bessie, putting out her hand again. “Do, do shake hands with me. Why! I owe you my life!”
“Don’t talk that way!” returned the boatman’s daughter. But she gave Bess her hand. “You make too much of what I did. And I don’t want to seem mean–and ungrateful.
“But, truly, you can do nothing for me. No, Mr. Lavine; there is nothing I could accept. You have wronged my father—”
He put up his hand in denial, but she went on to say: