"Margaret," said Mrs. Pennybacker, plainly, "you are losing more than a point in refusing the opportunity that Richard De Jarnette puts in your hands. A whole day instead of an hour is a great gain. If you take my advice you will not only accept that offer but you will thank him personally or by letter for it."
"I cannot," Margaret said passionately, the prudence and patience she had felt so sure of cast to the winds. "I will not be indebted to him for one thing. Even for the sake of being with Philip I cannot do it."
"You are very foolish. It means more than being with Philip."
"How could it possibly help me in any other way?"
"There is a principle of human nature involved in it. This is a kindness that Richard De Jarnette meant to do you,—you will acknowledge that?"
"Ye-s, but—"
"Well, a kindness done always disposes the heart of the person doing it toward the person to whom it is done."
"I don't want his heart disposed toward me!" cried the girl. "He is a cruel, despotic man. I hate him and I want to hate him!"
Mrs. Pennybacker looked at her over the top of her glasses.
"Patience has hardly had her perfect work with you yet, Margaret," she observed, dryly.