He held her closely in his arms until the storm of sobs had passed, and then placed a pillow under her head and went on gravely:
"Ann, I have come to this conclusion: you love Everett dearly, and I cannot understand his actions; but I'm not going to intrude upon your affection for him, nor his for you. I'm going to ask you not to take sides with either of us. I'm a lawyer, and so is he. Do you understand, Ann?"
Fearfully she clutched his fingers.
"But Fledra and Floyd—I can't let them go back, I can't! I can't!"
"They're not going back," said Horace firmly. "Mind you, Ann, even to renew my friendship with Brimbecomb, I shouldn't give them up."
"Renew your friendship!" gasped Ann. "Oh, have you quarreled with him, Horace?"
"Yes, and told him to leave my office."
Ann sobbed again.
"What a fearful tragedy is hanging over us!" she cried.
"It is worse than I imagined it could be," Horace declared; "much worse, for I never thought that the squatter could get a reputable firm to represent him. And as for Everett—well, he never entered my mind. I told him that he could not take those children, and that he might—"