“But, Mary—Miss Gilmore,” gently interrupted Loveman. This affair was taking an amazingly different turn from what he had expected. After all, bewildering as it was, matters were falling out in a way to make his original plan seem once more possible. “Mr. Morton’s offer is fair. Take it.”
Mary did not heed him, but spoke directly at Mr. Morton. “I do not care to undertake to conduct a sanitarium for one person for pay—and then have the patient removed as soon as a cure is effected.”
“But if you were willing to do it before, why not now? I don’t understand!”
“It is no concern of mine if you do not understand.”
She spoke calmly, coldly. Clifford’s eyes were fixed upon her, trying to pierce her brain and heart. Morton stared at her discomfited, desperation growing in his face. There was another moment of silence, against the background of the dance music which twanged stridently without.
Mary spoke again. “If that completes what you wish to say to me, Mr. Morton, then good-night.”
She turned to leave. Her hand was on the knob, when Morton spoke up, his voice now husky.
“Another minute, Miss Gilmore!” She turned about. “Miss Gilmore, you are my last chance—and Jack’s last chance.” He spoke more rapidly. “I’ve simply got to have you—you understand. You must have had some real kind of attachment for Jack or you’d never have offered what you did. And certainly Jack likes you or you’d never have had the influence over him that you’ve proved you possess. Listen—let’s consider it all from another angle. Miss Gilmore, when you were at the Grantham as ‘Mrs. Gardner’ you told me you had a husband—but excuse me, I do not believe it. Miss Gilmore”—he halted, there was a super-gulp, then he went on—“Miss Gilmore, if you are free, I want you to marry Jack.”
Clifford, Loveman, and Bradley, equally astounded, gazed at Mary. She seemed to be able only to stare at Mr. Morton.
“Whatever I may have said or thought against you, I’ll say this in your favor,” Mr. Morton continued, rapidly as before—“that you were so discreet in your affair with Jack, you kept it all so secret, that I’m sure there will be no scandal. We’ll not have that to face. So I ask you, as a favor, to marry him.”