“You and I know what she is, Dear; yet if she had no money, his father might insist on regarding her as a mere farm girl. He is as––as snobbish as I was when we were flung ashore by the storm, there in Mozambique.”
“I fail to see that it matters any to Chuckie what Ashton senior thinks.”
“Of course you don’t see. You’re as blind as when I––” the lady blushed––“as when I had to fling myself at you to make you see. The dear girl is as deeply in love with Lafayette as he is with her.”
“No? She doesn’t show it. How can you tell?”
“You know that Mr. Gowan is desperately in love with her.”
“That stands to reason. He couldn’t help but be. Can’t say I like the fellow. He may be all right, though. Must have some good qualities––Chuckie seems to be very fond of him.” 230
“As fond as if he were a brother. No; Lafayette is to be the happy man––unless he backslides. We must help him.”
Blake nodded. “That’s another thing that hangs on this project. If it proves to be feasible, I can give Ashton a chance to make good as an engineer. I used to think he must have bought his C.E. Now I see he has the makings.”
“He can be brilliant when he chooses. If only he were not so––so scatter-brained.”
“What he needed was a jolt heavy enough to shake him together. It seems as though his father gave it to him.”