paltering,
pleading, trying to explain, trying more desperately to postpone that
settlement he was demanding.

"But, honestly, it did seem to be a good plan, Dicky. I'm her mother. I
know her nature. You know how some natures have to be handled! She is so
self-centered. She has to be taken by surprise. She has to know that she
is making a sacrifice. That is why I arranged it all for Rose Alley and
borrowed that house. And I had it all planned out what to say to her at
the last moment there."

"Well, what was this great thing you were going to say?" He glared at
her, disgust and suspicion in his eyes.

She flushed. She hesitated, unable to meet his gaze.

"It's no use to tell you now, Dicky. Somehow, now that I come to think
it all over, it sounds rather tame. It all did seem so plausible, what
I was going to say when I sat down and planned out the thing. And the
romance of it--you know even self-centered girls like to feel that a man
wants them so much that he gets desperate--and she said once that she
would marry you some time--perhaps--and--"

"Oh, you--you--" He broke in and then stopped, lacking words. "What's
the use?" he muttered. "You don't even know your own daughter. She has
been enduring me because you have been keeping at her. I understand it
now. You told me you could hurry it up. You have made me look like a
melodrama villain. You have made her hate me. Now own up! Didn't she
rave to you after you got home and tell you she hated me? You have
nailed me to the cross for ever where she is concerned--now haven't you?
Own up."

"I can win her back, Dicky. Give me a little time." But she was not able
to look at him. "Don't scold me any more. I'm her mother. She will obey
her own mother in time. Don't hurt my sensitive nature any more." She
began to weep, twisting her rings on her trembling fingers.

He scowled at her, narrowing his eyes. "You haven't been playing square
with me, Mrs. Kilgour."

"Call me Mother Kilgour, Dicky, just as you always have."

"I won't stand for any more bluffing, Mrs. Kilgour. Kate has sworn to
you that she will never marry me--now hasn't she?"

"But I can talk her around--you can win her back. I'll tell her it was
my plan--I'll have courage to tell her later--"

"So you have been laying that crazy idea all to me?"

"But I'll get up courage to tell her some day--and your devotion will
win her back--devotion always wins. You can--"

"Mrs. Kilgour, I know you pretty well.