"I'll see to it myself," she said. Edith was good at this sort of thing,
and the supper she brought was delicious. He ate it with keen relish. Then
he went back to his study and picked up a book, an old favorite. He
started to read, but presently dozed. The book dropped from his hands and
he fell asleep.
He awakened with a start, and saw Deborah looking down at him. For a moment
he stared up, as he came to his senses, and in his daughter's clear gray
eyes he thought he saw a happiness which set his heart to beating fast.
"Well?" he questioned huskily.
"We're to be married right away."
He stared a moment longer; "Oh, I'm so glad, so glad, my dear. I was afraid
you--" he stopped short. Deborah bent close to him, and he felt her squeeze
his arm:
"I've been over and over all you said," she told him, in a low sweet voice.
"I had a good many ups and downs. But I'm all through now--I'm sure you
were right." And she pressed her cheek to his. "Oh, dad, dad--it's such a
relief! And I'm so happy!... Thank you, dear."
"Where is Allan?" he asked presently.
"I'll get him," she said. She left the room, and in a moment Allan's tall
ungainly form appeared in the doorway.
"Well, Allan, my boy," Roger cried.
"Oh, Roger Gale," said Allan softly. He was wringing Roger's hand.
"So she decided to risk you, eh," Roger said unsteadily. "Well, Baird, you
look like a devilish risk for a woman like her--who has the whole world on
her back as it is--"
"I know--I know--and how rash she has been! Only two years and her mind was
made up!"
"But that's like her--that's our Deborah--always acting like a flash--"
"Stop acting like children!" Deborah cried.
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