'Nothing; only, if he should turn out to be right,—if he should die within a year or two, what would become of his little daughter?'
Mr. and Mrs. Dallas exchanged a scarcely perceptible glance.
'Send her home to his family,' answered the former.
'Has he a family in England?'
'So he says. I judge, not a small one.'
'Not parents living, has he?'
'I believe not; but there are Gainsboroughs enough without that.'
'What ever made him come over here?'
'Some property quarrel, I gather, though the colonel never told me in so many words.'
'Then he might not like to send Esther to them. Property quarrels are embittering.'