“He was,” Clare said coldly.
“Then he has lost your friendship by taking Dick Brandon’s part?”
Clare colored, but her voice was firm as she answered:
“To some extent that is true. Mr. Brandon has cruelly injured us.”
“He was forced. Dick Brandon is not the man to shirk his duty because it was painful and clashed with his wishes.”
“Was it his duty to ruin my father?”
“He must have thought so; but we are getting on dangerous ground. I don’t know much about the matter. Do you?”
Clare lowered her eyes. Since Richter’s visit, she had had disturbing doubts about the nature of Kenwardine’s business; but after a few moments she asked in a hard, suspicious voice: “How do you know so much about Mr. Brandon?”
“Well,” said Ida calmly, “it’s plain that I’m not in love with him, because if I were, I should not have tried to make his peace with you. As a matter of fact, I’m going to marry somebody else before very long. However, now I think I’ve cleared away a possible mistake, I’ll own that I like Dick Brandon very much and am grateful to him for the care he has taken of my brother.”
“He stopped Jake from coming here,” Clare rejoined with a blush.