With a great effort, Elizabeth controlled herself. She lifted her face to her brother's as she sat on a low chair beside him. "Yes, dear Philip, I know."
"And did you know too that he had promised me not to ask you to marry him?"
Elizabeth started.
"No--not exactly. But perhaps--I guessed."
"He did then!" said Philip, wearily. "Of course I told him what I thought of his wanting to marry you, in the Rockies; and he behaved awfully decently. He'd never have said a word, I think, without my leave. Well--now I've changed my mind!"
Elizabeth could not help smiling through her tears. With what merry scorn would she have met this assertion of the patria potestas from the mouth of a sound brother! Her poor Philip!
"Dear old boy!--what have you been saying to Mr. Anderson?"
"Well!"--the boy choked a little--"I've been telling him that--well, never mind!--he knows what I think about him. Perhaps if I'd known him years ago--I'd have been different. That don't matter. But I want to settle things up for you and him. Because you know, Elizabeth, you're pretty gone on him, too!"
Elizabeth hid her face against his knee--without speaking. The boy resumed:
"And so I've been telling him that now I thought differently--I hoped he would ask you to marry him--and I knew that you cared for him--but that he mustn't dream of taking you to Canada. That was all nonsense--couldn't be thought of! He must settle here. You've lots of money--and--well, when I'm gone--you'll have more. Of course Martindale will go away from us, and I know he will look after mother as well as you."