“Laura thinks you have made her look foolish. You see, she took your cause up rather warmly.”
“I know. She was most generous.”
“You were so very confident.”
“Yes; but one little thing at the end tripped me up. I couldn’t have foreseen it. Mrs. Pocklington, do you think she will be very obdurate?”
“Oh, I’ve nothing to do with it. Don’t ask me.”
“I wish I could rely on your influence.”
“I haven’t any influence,” declared Mrs. Pocklington. “She’s as obstinate as a—as resolute as her father.”
George rose to go. He was rather disheartened; the price he had to pay for the luxury of generosity seemed very high.
Mrs. Pocklington was moved to pity. “George,” she said, “I feel like a traitor, but I will give you one little bit of advice.”