“Well, upon my soul,” said Ben, taking a deep breath and looking at Elsie, “he’s the whole thing, isn’t he?”
The girl smiled with pride.
“Yes; he is a genius. He was born to command and yet never could resist the cry of a child or the plea of a woman. He hates, but he hates ideas and systems. He makes threats, yet when he meets the man who stands for all he hates he falls in love with his enemy.”
“Yes, but I must be the judge of the time to speak.”
“Well, if he looks at me as he did once to-day, you may have to do the speaking also.”
“You will like him when you know him. He is one of the greatest men in America.”
“At least he’s the father of the greatest girl in the world, which is far more important.”
“I wonder if you know how important?” she asked seriously. “He is the apple of my eye. His bitter words, his cynicism and sarcasm, are all on the surface—masks that hide a great sensitive spirit. You can’t know with what brooding tenderness I have always loved and worshipped him. I will never marry against his wishes.”
“I hope he and I will always be good friends,” said Ben doubtfully.