Richmond looked up with a sad smile in her brother’s face, and kissed him once again.
“And Janet—” he said hoarsely, after he had returned her caress.
“Is acting as a true woman should. Take her as a pattern, dear, and show some self-denial.”
“Why not take you, Rich?” he said kindly as he gazed in the sweet careworn face before him. “There, I won’t ask you to have the money. I’m off; if I stop here longer I shall be acting like a girl. As for Poynter, if he comes and pesters you—”
“Mr Poynter will not come,” said Richmond, drawing herself up proudly. “He has acted like a coward to us both.”
“One moment, Rich,” said Hendon eagerly: “do you think—the governor—”
“Has taken money from him? No.”
“Thank God!”
“My father, whatever his weakness, is a true gentleman at heart. He would not do this thing.”
Hendon advanced a step to take his sister in his arms, but in his eyes then she wore so much the aspect of an indignant queen that he raised her thin white hand to his lips instead, and hurried from the house.