“The clutches of her mother are more vicious than those of the prince. There is the power that dominates. Can it be broken?”
“As well try to break down the Rocky Mountains. That woman has no heart—no soul, I'll swear. Dorothy has a mind and a will of her own, though, Frances. I feel that she loves me—something tells me she does, but she will not break this hateful compact. I am sure that I saw love in her eyes that last night, heard it in her voice, felt it in the way she dismissed me.”
“You made a mistake when you denounced him to her. It was but natural for her to defend him.”
“I know it, but I was driven to it. I saw no other way. She accused me of cowardice. Good heavens, I'd give my soul to be up now and able to call that villain's bluff. But I am in here for a week, at least, and the wedding is only two weeks away. When is Bob coming?” he cried, feverishly.
“Be calm, Phil. You will gain nothing by working yourself into a frenzy. Bob will come when I send for him. It shall be at once, if you have need for him here.”
“I want him immediately, but I cannot ask him or you to mix in this miserable game. There may be a scandal and I won't drag you all into it,” he said, dejectedly.
“I'll send for Bob, just the same, dear boy. What are friends for, pray?”
She left him with the firm and secret determination to carry the war for friendship's sake to the very door of Dorothy Garrison's stubborn heart, and that without delay.