Suddenly she threw her arms round his neck, drawing him to her and kissing his face.
"I'd do the same if you'd killed him yourself," she whispered in the extravagance of her love, and kissed him again.
"But, Daisy, you don't know."
"Yes, I do. He told me. He's been here."
"Who?"
"Jack Norburn. He said you would hate telling me, so he did. You mustn't mind, dear, you mustn't mind. Oh, you didn't think it would make any difference to me, dear, did you? What do I care? Mrs. Puttock may care, and Lady Eynesford, and all the rest, but what do I care if I have you and him?"
"Me and him, Daisy?"
"Yes," she answered, smiling boldly. "He's asked me to marry him—just to show he didn't mind—and I think I will, father. We three against the world! What need we care? Father, we'll beat Sir Robert!" and she seized his two hands and laughed.
In vain Medland tried to tell her what he had come to say. Mighty as his relief and joy were, he still felt a burden lay on him. She would not hear.