“Ah ha! I thought not.”
“I'll answer no demands from you. Why should I? If Mrs. Barnes or Miss Howes asks me I will answer, of course.”
“Mr. Kendrick—” began Thankful. Emily interrupted.
“Wait, Auntie,” she said. “He must answer me first. Mr. Kendrick, when that man came to you with his 'orders,' as you call them, you must have had some opportunity to speak. Why didn't you refuse at once?”
For the first time John hesitated. “Well,” he said, slowly, “for one reason I was taken completely by surprise.”
“So was Aunt Thankful, when he came to her. But she refused.”
“And, for another, there were certain circumstances which made it hard to refuse point-blank. In a way, I suppose Mr. Kendrick was justified in assuming that I would work for his interests. I accepted his retaining fee. You remember that I hesitated before doing so, but—but I did accept, and I have acted as his attorney since. I—”
“Stop! I did not ask for excuses. I ask you, as Mr. Daniels asked, are you for my cousin or against her?”
“And I ask you what is Mr. Daniels' warrant for asking me anything?”
“Answer my question! Will you fight for my cousin's rights, or have you sold yourself to—to this benefactor of yours?”