Deringham appeared to consider, because the motives which influenced him were ones he could not well reveal. "We are his only relatives in this country—and there is the look of the thing," he said.
The girl moved a little, and her father watching her noticed her fine symmetry, and how her red-gold hair gleamed against the white panelling. It was possibly because of this background he also noticed the faint flicker of warmth that crept into her face and neck, and that there was a glow in her eyes he had not seen there previously.
"That," she said with a cold distinctness, "is precisely what I object to."
Deringham laughed a little. "I think that aspect of the question will not be evident to Alton."
"No?" said the girl, while the tinge of colour deepened a little.
"Still, it is very plain to me."
Deringham said nothing, and the two sat still while the voice of the man dictating jarred upon one of them. "Very little interest taken in mineral claims, no inquiries for ranching properties."
Alice Deringham turned, and saw the girl's fingers flittering across the paper, but her face was still hidden and the monotonous voice continued, "We made a few advances during the last week or two."
The other passengers had gone out of the saloon, and it was very quiet save for the soft flow of words and rattle of the pencil, when Deringham once more unfolded the telegram.
"I am afraid it is going hardly with the man," he said suggestively. "'My partner met with accident—his condition is critical.' The message left Somasco yesterday."
There was a rustle at the adjoining table, and the girl's pencil fell to the floor.