“She shall never lack for happiness through me.”
Peter smiled in the darkness. A sigh of something like satisfaction escaped him. He knew that, in spite of the man’s spoken refusal, his appeal was not entirely unavailing.
“You won’t leave McLagan’s then?” he said.
“Not if Eve needs me.”
“Then don’t.”
But Jim became suddenly impatient.
“For G–––’s sake, man, can’t you speak out?”
“For Eve’s sake, I won’t,” was the quiet rejoinder.
“Then, Peter, I’m going right on to the ranch now. I’ll remain. But, remember, I am no longer a friend of Will’s––and never will be again. I’ll never even pretend. But if I can help Eve you can call on me. And––I put no limit on the hand I play. So long.”