“Well, I will,” declared Kate. “She’s quite capable of it, she has expressed her willingness, and she had strong motive. What more do you want?”
“What was her motive?” asked Gibbs in a casual tone, hoping to draw further light on these remarkable statements.
“Why,——” Kate hesitated, but Mrs Everett smiled and nodded permission, and Kate went on; “why, you see Miss Dorcas and young Mr Bates are friendly-like, and old Binney——”
“Sir Herbert,” prompted Mrs Everett, pointedly.
“Well, Sir Herbert, then, he was in favor of the two marrying.”
“And neither Mrs Everett nor Miss Prall approve the match?” Gibbs put in quickly.
“Of course they don’t! Well, Miss Prall, she’s one who would try and try to persuade Sir Herbert to change his mind——”
“And his will,” suggested Gibbs.
“And his will,” agreed Kate, “and then, when she couldn’t persuade him,—he had the devil’s own stubbornness,——”
“And so has she,” observed Mrs Everett.