"But I did, because it was repeated. Mr. North insisted that you had bought me; and I didn't like the way in which he said it, either. He called me 'the little Alicia'."
"What!" said Ford; and then a flood of light burst in upon at least one of the dark places. "It's only a mine," he said sheepishly. "And I did buy it, or half of it."
She was regarding him accusingly now.
"Did you—did you name it?" she asked, and there was the merest breath of frost in the air.
He was glad to be able to tell the truth without flinching.
"No; it is one of the earliest of the Copah prospects, and I suppose the discoverer named it. I am willing to defend his choice, though. He couldn't have found a prettier name."
She went back to the matter in hand with womanly swiftness. "But the mine: you had a right to buy it, didn't you?"
"I should suppose so. I paid for it with my own money, anyway."
"Then why should Mr. North use it as an argument against you in speaking to Uncle Sidney? He did that—I am sure he did that."
"Now the water has grown too deep for me," said Ford. "Why, North, himself, is interested in Copah, openly. He owns half a dozen claims."