The deadly quietness of this suddenly frightened the girl. That was a tone in his voice she knew and dreaded.
“Father,” she said, “father.”
They neither of them took any notice of her, and Frank answered in the same gentle, objecting manner.
“You say ‘we settled it,’” he said. “I had nothing to do with it. You merely told me what you were going to do. That is why I used the word ‘fairly.’”
Mr. Challoner considered this for a moment.
“I see your point,” he said. “That is so.”
Then he turned to Helen.
“So choose,” he said. “I settled it so.”
Helen looked at Frank a moment and stood up, love streaming round her in triumphant flood, bearing her away.
“I have chosen,” she said. “You know it.”