‘Name it as you will,’ returned her father, hardly suppressing a note of irritation. ‘True, every commercial enterprise is a speculation. But let me ask you one question, and beg you to reply frankly. Do you distrust my ability to conduct this periodical?’
She did. She knew that he was not in touch with the interests of the day, and that all manner of considerations akin to the prime end of selling his review would make him an untrustworthy editor.
But how could she tell him this?
‘My opinion would be worthless,’ she replied.
‘If Jedwood were disposed to put confidence in me, you also would?’
‘There’s no need to talk of that now, father. Indeed, I can’t say anything that would sound like a promise.’
He flashed a glance at her. Then she was more than doubtful?
‘But you have no objection, Marian, to talk in a friendly way of a project that would mean so much to me?’
‘But I am afraid to encourage you,’ she replied, frankly. ‘It is impossible for me to say whether I can do as you wish, or not.’
‘Yes, yes; I perfectly understand that. Heaven forbid that I should regard you as a child to be led independently of your own views and wishes! With so large a sum of money at stake, it would be monstrous if I acted rashly, and tried to persuade you to do the same. The matter will have to be most gravely considered.’