"Ah," said Stannard. "I suppose you had some grounds for your refusal?"
"I imagine he does not love me," Laura replied in a quiet voice.
Stannard studied her. Her color was rather high, but she was calm. In some respects, she was like her mother and not like him. Stannard was satisfied it was so.
"Yet he asked you to marry him!"
"Perhaps I am attractive; but now I think about it, he did not urge me much. For all that, Jimmy is a good sort."
For a few moments Stannard said nothing. Laura imagined he had meant her to marry Jimmy and her refusal bothered him. Yet his look rather indicated resignation than anger. She really did not know her father, but he was kind.
"Jimmy is a good sort," he remarked. "He has some other advantages."
"His advantages are obvious; he's sincere and frank and generous," Laura agreed with a touch of emotion. "Had he not been like that, I might have risked it."
Stannard shrugged. "Perhaps you're not altogether logical; but it's done with."
"I'm sorry, father," said Laura in a gentle voice and went up the steps.