He regarded her with eyes full of affection and gave a short laugh.
"I frightened you last night," he said. "Perhaps I did wrong."
"No, no, you didn't. Mother told me the plan to let Edgar go. That is right. Edgar can't be a comfort to you; but I can, father. Don't shut up the house. Let me stay with you till you are ready to go."
Mr. Fabian nodded, his eyes fixed upon the sensitive face with its beseeching eyes.
"You're a good girl, Kathleen. You are a comfort to me, whether we're together or not; and just now it will be an advantage to me to live close to my associates at the club. Go without anxiety, child. I promise to keep you advised of everything important."
The troubled eyes did not leave his face.
"Don't exaggerate what I said last night. I am not going to make any spectacular failure, but I have my own ideas of equity and I'm not going to wriggle out on a technicality. My course may lose me friends as well as money; but I've got to live with myself, and there are some memories I don't propose to entertain. Your mother has always been moderate in her demands, she has never shared the insane ambitions of some of her acquaintances; but her toys are very dear to her and I hate to curtail them. It looks as if I might have to."
"It might be the making of Edgar," said Kathleen.
Her father regarded her in silent admiration. It was evident that her own part in the loss had not occurred to her.