“Because, as you have so often taught me, we cannot live for ourselves alone. Because he is the son of your very old friend.”
“Yes,” said Van Heldre softly.
“Because it might save him from a downward course now that there is, I believe, a crisis in his life.”
“And because you love him, Maddy?”
She answered with a look.
“And if I were so insane, so quixotic, as to do all this, what guarantee have I that he would not gradually lead you to think differently—to consent to be his wife before he had redeemed his character?”
“The trust you have in me that I should not do anything you did not consider right.”
“Hah!” ejaculated Van Heldre again. And there was another long silence.
“I feel that I must plead for him, father. It would be the turning-point of his life. You could influence him so much.”
“I’m afraid not, my child. If he has not the manliness to do what is right for your sake, I’m afraid that anything I could do or say would not be of much avail.”