"Don't you do it!" he exclaimed. "It makes me sick to think of their trying to force you into such a thing." He did look moved.
"Don't get into such a wax. They can't force me—do I look like a person to be forced?—and poor old daddy of all people in the world! If you just knew him; we're the greatest pals in the world. But there's Moira. If I were to marry some one with a lot of money, she could marry poor Reggy; and Moira couldn't stand being unhappy near so well as I can."
"Who's the man?" growled Willy in a tone of mingled gloom and fury.
"I don't know his name," replied the girl sadly. "It was like this: Dad met his father, and they became very chummy, and they got to talking. He talked about his son, who is a 'nice fellow' with elegant tastes and doesn't like business. Oh, I know, a perfectly odious person."
"Odious," Willy agreed morosely; "a downright sissy! You'd be watched!"
"Yes," sighed Lady Jean; "but Moira would be wretcheder because she would always be thinking of Reggy. And besides"—she grew more cheerful—"men never fancy me; no doubt he'll think I'm too ugly and dowdy, and I'm so shy I shall be hideously awkward."
"You're nothing of the kind!" Willy interrupted; "it—it's the most abominable cold-blooded bargain-and-sale business! And your father told you—"
"Oh, no, he didn't tell me. It was Ellen. She was so pleased; she never had any hopes of me, don't you know; and now she says they won't need to sacrifice Moira. But if the young man doesn't want me, I shan't be to blame. Now tell me about your girl!"
"There's nothing to tell. I never saw her. I don't know her name, even. Only she's got a title; and she is very brilliant and charming and modest, and I'll be lucky. It's another case of parents butting in. All he wants, he says, is for me to see her; I told him I should run away if I knew I were in the same town! But never mind me. Don't worry, little girl. I'll think up a way to save you all right, all right."
His face, as he spoke, was stern and dark. She was sure that he must have great latent strength of character.