Part 20 (1/2)
”I'm talking about essential right and wrong. Miss O'Neill is idealizing Macdonald. I don't suppose you've told her, for instance, that he made his first money in the North running a dance hall.”
”No, I haven't told her any such thing, because it isn't true,” she replied scornfully. ”He owned an opera house and brought in a company of players. I dare say they danced. That's very different, as you'd know if you didn't have astigmatism of the mind.”
”Not the way the story was told me. But let that pa.s.s. Does she know that Macdonald beat her father out of one of the best claims on Bonanza and was indirectly responsible for his death?”
”What's the use of talking nonsense, Gordon. You know you can't prove that,” his friend told him sharply.
”I think I can--if it is necessary.”
Diane looked across at him with an impudent little tilt of the chin.
”I don't think I like you as well as I used to.”
”Sorry, because I'd like you just as well, Diane, if you would stop trying to manage your cousin into a marriage that will spoil her life,”
he answered gravely.
”How dare you say that! How dare you, Gordon Elliot!” she flung back, furious at him. ”I won't have you here talking that way to me. It's an insult.”
The fearless, level eyes of her friend looked straight at her. ”I say it because the happiness of Miss O'Neill is of very great importance to me.”
”Do you mean--?” Wide-eyed, she looked her question straight at him.
”That's just what I mean, Diane.”
She darned for a minute in silence. It had occurred to Diane before that perhaps Gordon might be in love with Sheba, but she had put the thought from her because she did not want to believe it.
”That's different, Gordon. It explains--and in a way excuses--your coming here and trying to bully me.” She stopped her work to flash a question at him. ”Don't you think that maybe it's only a fancy of yours?
I remember you used--”
He shook his head. ”No chance, Diane. I'm hard hit. She's the only girl I ever met that suited me. Everything she does is right. Every move she makes is wonderful.”
The eyes with which she looked at him were softer, as those of women are wont to be for the true romance.
”You poor boy,” she murmured, and let her hand for a moment rest on his.
”Meaning that I lose?” he asked quickly.
”I think you do. I'm not sure.”
Elliot leaned forward impulsively. ”Be a good sport, Diane. Let me have my chance too. Why do you make it easy for Macdonald and hard for me?
Isn't it because the glamour of his millions blinds you?”
”He's a big, splendid man, but I don't like him any the less because he has the power to make life easy and comfortable for Sheba,” she defended st.u.r.dily.
”Yet you turned down Arthur West, the best catch in your set, to marry Peter, who was the worst,” he reminded her. ”Have you ever been sorry for it?”
”That's different. Peter and I fit. It was one case out of a million.”
She gave him her old, friendly smile. ”But I don't want to be hard on you, Gord. I'll be neutral. Come and see Sheba as often as she'll let you.”
Gordon beamed as he shook hands with her. ”That sounds like the Di Paget I used to know.”