Alison saw he gave her ceremonious politeness, but his look was kind, and she smiled.
“Kit is independent, but sometimes independence like his is justified.”
“It’s possible,” Jasper agreed. “Your championing Kit is natural, because I believe you are going to marry him very soon.”
“I wonder whether you think I ought,” said Alison quietly, and motioned Kit to wait.
“You are frank, but I like your frankness,” Jasper replied. “Well, your lover is my nephew, and I know something about you. You spring from old yeoman stock and I think its virtues are yours. Our fortunes are recent and the founder of our house was a blacksmith. However, I want to talk to Kit, and I hope to have your support.”
He indicated the smooth trunk and turned to Kit. “I imagine you feel you do not owe me much?”
“Perhaps I did feel something of the sort, but now I don’t know. All the same, I’m puzzled. You found out Blake sold the boiler drawings. Yet you said nothing!”
“My reserve was calculated. From the beginning I had plans for you. Then I felt the money I used, which might be yours, was not altogether mine. Some I inherited, but all was got by sweat of brain and muscle at office and forge; I was resolved our fortune must not be squandered in social ambitions and extravagance. It must be used to forge steel, to build ships and bridges and rolling mills. Our business is to hammer iron and I felt I’d sooner see my nephew labor with a navvy’s shovel than loaf about town.”
“But since I did not want to loaf, I don’t yet see——”
“I think Alison sees,” said Jasper, and gave her a smile. “When a man marries he is not altogether a free agent; much depends on his wife and something on her relations. Well, I expect you will find Mrs. Carson’s point of view is mine, Kit, and in the meantime we’ll let it go. I wanted you to try your powers, to face obstacles, and get control and balance. In fact, I wanted to learn if you could go alone.”