"Certainly. My father robbed him of much money. I must try to pay some back."
"But the man cannot legally claim a farthing from you. A girl--under age, too--cannot be made to pay a debt."
"You don't understand. It is a debt of honour. Ah!" she smiled sadly, "you thought I acted dishonourably about the pictures, so you cannot understand my being honourable about anything else."
"You could not be dishonourable," exclaimed Norman, quite hotly, "or anything else except most honourable. About the pictures you hold a mistaken view, that is all. For the rest, your taking upon yourself this debt is noble. I only know one other girl who would have attempted it." He smiled grimly.
"Alice?"
"Yes."
"Ah, she would have done it. How I wish you would let her come to me! I have not many friends," Doris's lips trembled. There were times when she yearned for Alice's bright young face and loving words.
"You have not lost her love--she is always wanting to come to you. But I really----" he hesitated, seeking a word.
"You think I am not good enough to associate with Alice--that I should contaminate her if she came here----"
"Not good enough? Contaminate her?" Sinclair cried excitedly. "Oh, if you knew what I think of you, how I esteem and admire you!"