That merely a part of his pose."
"I'm sure it isn't."
"You're romantic, my dear. I'll admit his arrival on this ship was
dramatic. No doubt you're imagining him a knight going back to
save gallantly a day that is lost. He's only a politician, and so
far as I can understand they are almost all a bad lot."
"Including Father and Uncle Joe and Ned Merrill?" Alice asked
acidly.
"They are not politicians, but business men. They are in politics
merely to protect their interests. But I didn't intend to start a
discussion about Mr. Farnum. I ask you to remember that as your
chaperone I'm here to represent your father. Would he wish you to
be friendly with this man?"
Alice was silent. What her father would think was not a matter of
doubt.
"The man's impossible," Mrs. Van Tyle went on pleasantly. "And
it's just as well to be careful. Not that I'm very prudish myself.
But if you're going to marry Ned Merrill--"
She had struck the wrong note. Like a flash Alice answered.
"I'm not. That's definitely decided."
"Really! I thought it was rather arranged," Valencia smiled
blandly.
It was all very well for Alice to protest, but in the end she
would be a good girl and do as she was told.
Pages:
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263