He was somewhat amazed at the length to which his subconscious thought was carrying him, for his spoken words could infer nothing less than his undertaking at his own expense the completion of the girl's education. The housekeeper's exclamation quickly brought him to a recognition of his meaning.
"You mean—that you——!" she halted and looked at him over her glasses in wonder.
"Yes," he said blandly, aware of an irrevocable step. "I do, Mrs. Bergen."
"My land!" she exclaimed. And then again as though in echo, "My land!"
"That's one of the reasons why I've come here to you to-day," he went on quickly. "I want to help Beth and I want to help you. I know that everything isn't going right for you at Black Rock House. I've been drawn more deeply into—into McGuire's affairs than I expected to be and I've learned a great many things that aren't any business of mine. And one of the things I've learned is that your peace of mind and Beth's happiness are threatened by the things that are happening around you."
The housekeeper had risen and stood leaning against the dresser, immediately on her guard.
"Mrs. Bergen," he went on firmly, "there's no use of trying to evade this issue—because it's here! I know more than you think I do. I'm trying to get at the root of this mystery because of Beth. You told me the other night that Beth's happiness was involved when that stranger came to the kitchen porch——"
"No, no," gasped the woman. "Don't ask me. I'll tell you nothin'."
"You saw this man—outside the kitchen door in the dark," he insisted. "You talked with him——"
"No—no. Don't ask me, Mr. Nichols."