He kept a bold face to the enemy, but after Wingfield’s departure, Maude saw that his confidence was greatly shaken.
‘He seemed very sure of their case,’ said he. ‘He would not speak like that if he did not know.’
But Maude took quite another view.
‘If they know that they can recover their money in court, why should they send Mr. Wingfield down in this way.’
‘He is such a good chap—he wants to save us expense.’
Maude was less trusting.
‘He is doing the best for his own side,’ said she. ‘It is his duty, and we can’t blame him. But if he thought it best to get behind his own lawyers and come down here, then he must have some doubts about going into court. Perhaps he would be willing to consider some compromise.’
But Frank only shook his head.
‘We have drawn the cork, and we must drink the wine,’ said he. ‘We have gone too far to stop. Any compromise which they would accept would be as much out of our power to pay as the whole sum would be, and so we may just as well see it through.’ But for once Maude did not take his opinion as final, but lay awake all night and thought it over. She had determined to begin acting upon her own account, and she was so eager to try what she could do that she lay longing for the morning to break. When she came down to breakfast, her plan of campaign was formed.
‘I am coming up to town with you, Frank.’