"Now listen to me," he said, with his kindly smile; "you have not to trouble about this; you are to go your own way and allow me to make it right with Farrington. He is a very headstrong and ambitious man, and there is some reason perhaps why he should want you to marry Doughton, but as to that I will gain a little more information. In the meantime you are to dismiss the matter from your mind, leaving everything to me."
She shook her head.
"I am afraid I cannot do that," she said. "Unless I have a letter from my guardian expressing wishes to the contrary, I must carry out his desires. It is dreadful—dreadful,"—she wrung her hands piteously,—"that I should be placed in this wretched position. How can I help him by marrying Frank Doughton? How can I save him—can you tell me?"
He shook his head.
"Have you communicated with Mr. Doughton?"
She nodded.
"I sent him a letter," she hesitated. "I have kept a draft of it; would you like to see it?"
A little shade of bitter anger swept across his face, but with an effort he mastered himself.
"I should," he said, evenly.
She handed the sheet of paper to him.