"Why? I intend to marry you whether you want to or not."
"Oh, Dan, it wouldn't do. You know—about—mother. I've nearly died of shame, and—it would be sure to come up. Somebody would speak of it, sometime."
Dan's blue eyes went cold and smoky as he said:
"It would take a pretty brave person to mention the subject in my presence. I don't care a whoop for anything Gordon or your family may say or do. I—"
There was a stir in the hall outside, and the speaker turned to behold Curtis Gordon himself in the doorway. The latter in passing had been drawn by the sound of voices and had looked into the library. Recognizing Natalie's caller, he frowned.
"What is this?" he inquired, coldly. "A proposal? Do I interrupt?"
"You do," said Dan; then, after a pause, "I'll finish it when you leave."
Gordon entered, and spoke to his stepdaughter.
"What is this man doing in my house?"
"He is here at my invitation," she replied.