"
"And yet we could hardly put ourselves in a humiliating situation just
to furnish Mr. Davenant with an incentive for occupation, could we,
Cousin Rodney?"
"I dare say not."
"And he isn't offering us the money merely for the sake of getting rid
of it, do you think?"
"Then what _is_ he offering it to you for?"
"That's exactly what I want to know. Haven't you any idea?"
"Haven't you?"
She waited a minute before deciding to speak openly. "I suppose you
never heard that he once asked me to marry him?"
He betrayed his surprise by the way in which he put down the little
Chinese figure and wheeled round more directly toward her.
"Who? Peter?"
She nodded.
"What the dickens made him do that?"
She opened her eyes innocently. "I'm sure I can't imagine."
"It isn't a bit like him. You must have led him on."
"I didn't," she declared, indignantly. "I never took any notice of him
at all. Nothing could have astonished me more than his--his
presumption."
"And what did you say to him? Did you box his ears?"
"I was very rude, and that's partly the trouble now. I feel as if he'd
been nursing a grudge against me all these years--and was paying it."
"In that case he's got you on the hip, hasn't he? It's a lovely turning
of the tables.
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