n't want to;
but maybe I shall have to, to save Moira."

"Don't you do it!" he exclaimed. "It makes me sick to think of their
trying to force you into such a thing." He did look moved.

"Don't get into such a wax. They can't force me--do I look like a person
to be forced?--and poor old daddy of all people in the world! If you
just knew him; we're the greatest pals in the world. But there's Moira.
If I were to marry some one with a lot of money, she could marry poor
Reggy; and Moira couldn't stand being unhappy near so well as I can."

"Who's the man?" growled Willy in a tone of mingled gloom and fury.

"I don't know his name," replied the girl sadly. "It was like this: Dad
met his father, and they became very chummy, and they got to talking. He
talked about his son, who is a 'nice fellow' with elegant tastes and
doesn't like business. Oh, I know, a perfectly odious person."

"Odious," Willy agreed morosely; "a downright _sissy_! You'd be
_watched_!"

"Yes," sighed Lady Jean; "but Moira would be wretcheder because she
would always be thinking of Reggy. And besides"--she grew more
cheerful--"men never fancy me; no doubt he'll think I'm too ugly and
dowdy, and I'm so shy I shall be hideously awkward."

"You're nothing of the kind!" Willy interrupted; "it--it's the most
abominable cold-blooded bargain-and-sale business! And your father told
you--"

"Oh, no, he didn't tell me. It was Ellen. She was so pleased; she never
had any hopes of _me_, don't you know; and now she says they won't need
to sacrifice Moira. But if the young man doesn't want me, _I_ shan't be
to blame. Now tell me about your girl!"

"There's nothing to tell. I never saw her. I don't know her name, even.
Only she's got a title; and she is very brilliant and charming and
modest, and I'll be lucky. It's another case of parents butting in. All
he wants, he says, is for me to _see_ her; I told him I should run away
if I knew I were in the same town! But never mind me. Don't worry,
little girl. _I'll_ think up a way to save you all right, all right."

His face, as he spoke, was stern and dark. She was sure that he must
have great latent strength of character.

Abruptly she changed the subject recalling the elusive mowing-machine
and the approach of the Brookes' dinner-hour. Willy was sure that Mr.
Rivers would want her to see the mower, it was--was--so typically
American; and if he would take her directly and swiftly home, wouldn't
she go on another