“I’m proud of you, Phil, but you’re not awake—not really awake or you couldn’t sit by and see the girl you love forced into an engagement with a man she doesn’t care for.”
Gallatin flushed.
“Is that—” he asked slowly, “is that what this—this luncheon means?”
“Judge for yourself. He is with her always. And they’ve even rebelled against my chaperonage. Their relations are talked of freely in Jane’s presence and she laughs acquiescence. Imagine it!”
Gallatin turned away.
“I—I have no further interest in—in Miss Loring,” he said quietly.
“Well, I have. And I’m not going to let her make a fool of herself if I can help it.”
“Miss Loring will probably not agree with you.”
“I hardly expect her to.” She hesitated. “Phil,” she asked at last.