Mr. Forbes had turned very grey. His nostrils and lips contracted. His teeth set. Involuntarily he glanced from the woman to the portrait. The portrait was more alive than the woman.
“Don’t you understand?” she demanded.
“No,” he said, “I don’t think I do. At least I hope I do not. At all events, I hope we may not discuss this subject again. I did not tell you that I intend to pull Creighton through. I cannot see an old friend go under. It will be to the Duke’s interest to push his suit in that quarter—if they want him. Now, please go to your room. You are very much excited. If you were not I hardly think you would have spoken as you have.”
He went to the end of the room and opened the door. She passed him quickly with averted head.
CHAPTER XVI.
Once more father and daughter faced each other across the breakfast table. This time, Augusta, with a very red face, stared defiantly into bitter and contemptuous eyes.
“And your socialism? Do you expect to convert your Duke?”
“No, papa; of course not.”
“It is exactly five weeks since you informed me that you wished me to devote my fortune to the dear people.”
“I know it, papa. One looks at things very differently when one looks at them through a man’s eyes, as it were—I mean through the eyes of the man one has fallen in love with; of course I always have had the highest respect for your opinion. Now, it seems to me a grand thing to restore the fortunes of an ancient and illustrious house——”