"But of the two of you, you are the harder, the best equipped to meet the shock of life ... for you will grow wiser, where Penton never will."
"How did Penton speak of me?"
"Splendidly—said he considered that in a way, perhaps, he had worked you a wrong, done an injustice to you."
"Nonsense, the poor little chap!"
"He made me cry, he acted so pathetic ... he seemed like a motherless little boy that needed a woman's love and protection."
"Darrie, why don't you marry him?"
"Now you're trying to do with me as he tried to do with Ruth and you ... marry him ... no ... I'm—I think I'm—in love with 'Gene Mallows."
Penton was pleased to hear, she said, that Daniel and I had got on so nicely together, while he was down at West Grove....
So, as I rode in the dusty, bumping train, my mind reverted to our whole friendship together, and tenderness welled up in my heart for Penton Baxter.